Brookhaven, MS

3 Apartments for Rent

Time magazine's Person of the Year for 1975 was from the little town of Brookhaven, Mississippi. Addie L. Wyatt was the leader in the U.S. Labor movement and a civil rights activist.

Brookhaven, Mississippi, may not be the biggest town in the state, but considering it used to be a trading post, it has come a long way. In 2007, the town tripled its size through a vote of annexation. Settled in 1818 by Samuel Jayne from Brookhaven, Long Island -- no, the name is not a coincidence -- this little town has an Amtrak station of its very own. Life within the 7.3 square miles of Brookhaven might be right for you if laid back with a southern flair is the style you are shopping to find. From here, you can easily travel to Jackson, Columbia, or Hattiesburg for work or play.

Moving to Brookhaven

The tiny town of Brookhaven, population 12,520 at last count, sits less than an hour away from the capital city of Jackson, Mississippi, to the north and only two hours from the Gulf of Mexico to the south. That makes Brookhaven an ideal spot for those who want to live a quieter life with all the benefits of a big city, or near a big ocean depending on what direction you turn on I-55, within traveling distance.

When to Start Looking?

Brookhaven is a town that tends to have a reasonable number of vacancies, especially off-season. It sees its fair share of vacationers wanting to spend time enjoying the local water recreation. What this means to anyone rental apartment shopping is that there should be plenty of properties to choose from when you are ready.

Give yourself time to find the right place. You can start looking up to six months ahead of time, but would probably be able to find a suitable month-to-month rental in a pinch. Property options vary from studio apartments for rent to single-family homes, depending on what neighborhood you choose.

Time to Sign

When it comes time to sign on the dotted line, make sure you have at least one month's rent and security deposit in hand. Potential property owners will be looking at your money situation, rental history and may want to do a full background check, especially if renting in a complex.

Neighborhoods in Brookhaven

Speaking of neighborhoods, Brookhaven hosts the following constituent communities:

City Center: Smack dab in the middle of town is the City Center, home to the Mississippi School of the Arts and the Brookhaven Amtrak.

Loyd Star / Zetus: The Lloyd Star neighborhood covers the upper western tip of the town. This area includes a section of the Homochitto National Forest. In other words, you can find a nice two-bedroom apartment for rent here with a killer view.

Ruth / Fair Oak Springs: To the south of town is the neighborhood residents call Ruth / Fair Oaks Springs. This area sits parallel to the town of Bogue Chitto and includes a portion of Myers Creek and Beaver Dam Creek.

New Sight / Friendship: New Sight / Friendship is a good choice for those commuting to Jackson. Both the I-55 and State Road 51 run through it.

Living in Brookhaven

Brookhaven has a small-town feel to it. That is part of its charm, but there are still things to do within the city limits. As home to the Mississippi School of the Arts, this little town is known for its art culture. The Mississippi School of the Arts is a high school that focuses on literary, visual and performing arts, as well as academics. Maybe the next Justin Timberlake or Jack White will be growing in your neighborhood.

Brookhaven also appeals to outdoorsy types looking to rent an apartment. The town is minutes away from hiking, camping, watersports and boating at Lake Lincoln and Percy Quin State Parks. On the southern tip of the town is a facility that hosts anything from livestock shows to family reunions. The Brookhaven-Lincoln County Multi-Use Facility even sees the occasional rodeo.

If you need a break from all the peace and quiet Brookhaven offers, jump on a train or into your car and take the ride up to Jackson. There you can catch a show, eat at a fining dining establishment and visit historic sites such as the King Edward Hotel or Medgar Evers Home Museum.

Getting Around Town

The famous City of New Orleans' nightly passenger train stops through the town of Brookhaven. Once on board, you can go to Chicago, St. Louis and of course New Orleans. The City of New Orleans is also the best mass transit option if commuting to Jackson. Residents can jump on board and be there within an hour.

Brookhaven sits in close proximity to major travel routes in Mississippi. If heading north to Jackson or south to New Orleans, just get on the I-55 or State Road 51. When you want to commune with nature, State Road 84 goes from east and west, taking you to the Homochitto National Forest or Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge.

Local residents call Brookhaven "A Home Seeker's Paradise." Why? Nobody really knows, but the town does offer nice climate, historic venues, an art culture and is in close proximity to metro areas like Jackson. On top of all that, come Mardi Gras time, you are living just 135 miles away from where the beads are flying. Hard to imagine what else you could want from a new home. If you are rental shopping for quiet with a little bit of pine mixed in and jazz around the corner, Brookhaven might be the one.