Is Howison safe?
Pass Christian, Mississippi · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Howison as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Howison
“Go. Howison is a quiet, rural Harrison County community with very low violent crime and a laid-back Southern atmosphere. Visitors will find a tranquil countryside setting, though you will need a personal vehicle to access shopping, dining, and Gulf Coast amenities.”
About the area
Howison is a sparse, semi-rural settlement located in northern Harrison County inland from coastal Pass Christian and Gulfport. It is characterized by sprawling acreage, timberland, and quiet residential properties nestled among pine forests.
- Quiet & Rural
- Wooded & Spacious
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Howison
Walk score: 12/100 · Bike score: 24/100
There are no dedicated bike-share programs or municipal bike lanes; cyclists generally stick to low-traffic rural roads or paved trails closer to the coastline such as the Long Beach/Pass Christian beachfront path.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to national and urban metro averages
- High rate of single-family homeownership fostering a stable, peaceful residential environment
- Spacious, uncrowded natural setting with easy access to DeSoto National Forest outdoor recreation
Cons
- Highly car-dependent with virtually no walkable retail or dining corridors
- Long emergency services and medical response distances due to rural road layout
- Limited street lighting along rural roads after dark
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Howison, with unhoused populations and social services concentrated in larger urban hubs like Gulfport and Biloxi.
What Howison is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and serene with morning birdsong and very light residential or commuter traffic.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe with wide open spaces and occasional local vehicles traveling two-lane roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and dark as rural roads settle down, feeling completely safe though isolated.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Pitch-black with minimal activity; very safe from street crime, though lack of illumination requires caution when driving.
Transit, parking and getting around
Coast Transit Authority (CTA) operates limited fixed-route transit across the Gulf Coast urban strip, but no regular fixed-route bus service extends directly into rural Howison.
Free and ample private driveway and lot parking is standard across the area, with no metered parking or parking garages present.
Things to do in Howison
- Explore the nearby hiking and off-road trails in the sprawling DeSoto National Forest
- Take a short scenic drive south to the white sand beaches and historic harbor of Pass Christian
- Enjoy freshwater fishing and kayaking along the local creeks and bayous of Harrison County
Local favorites
- Buzzy's Breakfast Joint · Southern Restaurant · 4.7★ (320)A beloved nearby Gulf Coast diner serving hearty country breakfasts, biscuits, and coffee.
- Cat Island Coffeehouse · Coffee Shop & Bookstore · 4.8★ (460)Coastal bookstore and cafe offering scenic waterfront views, specialty espresso, and local literature.
- Pass Christian Books · Bookstore · 4.8★ (190)Charming independent bookstore featuring Mississippi authors and regional history titles.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.