Mississippi State, Local Data & Statistics

Population, Income, Rent & Housing Statistics

Total population: 2,946,779 Household income: $56,447 Rent: $954

Overview

Total population

2,946,779

Rent

$954

Year built

1986

Household income

$56,447

Per capita income

$31,549

Poverty rate

18.9%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

43.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Mississippi

Total population

2,946,779

Adults over 25

1,972,266

Total households

1,145,431

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$56,447

Per capita income

$31,549

Poverty rate

18.9%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Rent over 30% of income

43.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$954

Year built

1986

Households that rent

30%

Households that own

70%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

55.8%

Black

36.4%

Asian

Two or more races

4.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

3.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

96.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

94.1%

Commute time to work

26 mins

Work from home

5.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

31.2%

High school graduate or GED

29.9%

Some college or associate degree

13.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

25.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Mississippi with: Tennessee Alabama Louisiana United States

Mississippi

Total population2,946,779

Rent$954

Year built1986

Household income$56,447

Per capita income$31,549

Poverty rate18.9%

Unemployment rate3.1%

Tennessee

Total population7,066,383

Rent$1,189

Year built1987

Household income$69,595

Per capita income$39,437

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate3.4%

Alabama

Total population5,086,768

Rent$1,007

Year built1986

Household income$63,999

Per capita income$36,087

Poverty rate15.6%

Unemployment rate3.1%

Louisiana

Total population4,611,961

Rent$1,064

Year built1983

Household income$60,756

Per capita income$35,038

Poverty rate18.9%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	StateMississippi	StateTennessee	StateAlabama	StateLouisiana	CountyUnited States
Total population	2,946,779	7,066,383	5,086,768	4,611,961	334,922,499
Rent	$954	$1,189	$1,007	$1,064	$1,413
Year built	1986	1987	1986	1983	1980
Household income	$56,447	$69,595	$63,999	$60,756	$80,734
Per capita income	$31,549	$39,437	$36,087	$35,038	$44,673
Poverty rate	18.9%	13.8%	15.6%	18.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.1%	3.4%	3.1%	4.3%	4%

Mississippi is compared to its neighboring states — Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana — plus the United States overall.

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Mississippi

Mississippi has about 2,946,779 residents.

RENT & INCOME

Monthly rent in Mississippi is $954, which is lower than the United States level of $1,413. Household income in Mississippi is $56,447, lower than the United States figure of $80,734. Additionally, the share of residents living below the poverty line is 18.9%, higher than the U.S. rate of 12.5%.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

Owner-occupied households represent 70% of homes. About 30% of households in Mississippi are renters. Around 43.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high housing cost burden statewide. Homes are a mix of older and newer construction, with many built around 1986.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 25.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in Mississippi is 3.1%, lower than the U.S. rate of 4%.

Mississippi — Rent vs Household Income

Mississippi — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Mississippi (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $954 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Mississippi

Annual Household Income: $56,447

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Mississippi

Estimated Rate: 18.9%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Mississippi

In Mississippi, households that rent: 343,643 (30%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	343,643	30%
Owner-Occupied	801,788	70%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Mississippi

In Mississippi, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 149,998 (43.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	149,998	43.6%
Other renter households	193,645	56.4%
Total renter households	343,643	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Mississippi

Less than High School: 614,563 people (31.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 589,717 people (29.9%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 272,266 people (13.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 495,720 people (25.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 1,972,266

📊 Unemployment Rate in Mississippi

Estimated Rate: 3.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.