Petal, MS Homes for Rent

Petal, Mississippi, is a small city incorporated in 1974, located along the Leaf River just 3 miles northeast of Hattiesburg. With a population of around 11,000, Petal is known for its highly rated Petal School District, which consistently ranks among the best in the state. The district serves over 4,200 students across five schools, including Petal High School, which won the National Blue Ribbon Award in 2022. The city features a mix of homes from the 1950s to the ’80s, as well as new-construction houses, with larger lots typically found in older subdivisions. Petal offers various recreational opportunities, including mountain biking trails and playgrounds at Petal River Park, Hinton Park, and Emma Hill Park. Friendly Park hosts baseball fields, batting cages, a skate park, and a splash pad, while the Petal Family YMCA provides additional amenities. Dining options are limited, with local favorites like Sully’s steakhouse and Mom & Dad's Country Cooking, alongside fast-food outlets and a supermarket on Central Avenue and Main Street. For more extensive shopping and dining, residents head to Evelyn Gandy Parkway. Commuting is facilitated by Evelyn Gandy Parkway and U.S. Route 11, leading to downtown Hattiesburg. Jackson, Mobile, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast are less than 100 miles away. Petal experiences hot, humid summers and mild winters, with tornadoes posing a potential threat. The city has a relatively low crime risk compared to the national average, with the Petal Police Department reporting an average of 12 violent crime incidents and 56 property crime incidents annually from 2021 to 2024.