Batesville, MS, United States

Capital City

With a population of just 7,523, Batesville is a sleepy, provincial outpost in the Mississippi Delta. The tax burden is heavy, with over a quarter of the population living below the poverty line, and the demographics skew older and whiter than the state average. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the county seat split between two rival towns on either side of the Tallahatchie River.

This is not the place for young, ambitious professionals looking to climb the ladder. Batesville's charms, if any, lie in its small-town simplicity and proximity to the natural beauty of the Delta region. Those seeking an authentic taste of rural Southern life may find Batesville a suitable, if unglamorous, destination.