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Mississippi Demographics & Population 2026

As of 2026, Mississippi has a total population of 2,951,438, with a median household income of $54,915, which is 30% lower the national average. The poverty rate is 19.1%.

Mississippi Quick Facts

Population 2,951,438
Median Household Income $54,915
Median Home Value $161,400
Poverty Rate 19.1%
Unemployment Rate 6.0%
Median Age 38.4 years
Homeownership Rate 69.5%
Affordability Ratio 2.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 24.2%
High School Graduation 86.6%
Counties 82
Cities/Places 419
Population 2,951,438
Median Income $54,915 30% lower national
Poverty Rate 19.1%
Unemployment 6.0%

Economy & Housing

Employment

6.0% Unemployment Rate State: 6.0% | National: 5.2%
57.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 69.5%
Renter 30.5%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

55out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 55 | National average: 60

Education

Largest Cities in Mississippi

#CityPopulationMedian IncomePoverty
1Jackson city149,827$43,23826.8%
2Gulfport city72,533$46,04424.3%
3Southaven city55,531$76,15912.3%
4Biloxi city49,011$55,95815.7%
5Hattiesburg city48,507$44,14030.4%
6Olive Branch city46,538$98,4215.0%
7Tupelo city37,825$66,31413.8%
8Meridian city34,466$34,65731.9%
9Greenville city28,833$36,29731.8%
10Madison city27,775$120,9184.4%

Richest Cities in Mississippi

#CityMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+
1Mooreville CDP$143,681$175,10059.1%
2Bridgetown CDP$127,917$320,80033.9%
3Madison city$120,918$334,70065.7%
4Gluckstadt city$118,577$277,00069.1%
5Oak Grove CDP$105,069$239,60066.8%
6Olive Branch city$98,421$269,90031.1%
7Lyman CDP$97,500$205,00020.4%
8Lynchburg CDP$93,750$201,50024.0%
9Brandon city$93,073$255,90041.8%
10DeLisle CDP$90,288$228,10033.2%

Most Affordable Cities in Mississippi

By home-value-to-income ratio (lower = more affordable). Min. population 1,000.

#CityRatioHome ValueIncome
1Sharon CDP1.1x$100,100$90,278
2Pearl River CDP1.2x$55,000$46,295
3Centreville town1.2x$57,200$47,844
4Mooreville CDP1.2x$175,100$143,681
5Blue Mountain town1.4x$78,600$57,527
6Robinhood CDP1.4x$85,300$59,706
7Vardaman town1.5x$55,000$36,000
8Magnolia city1.6x$60,000$37,447
9Mantachie town1.6x$131,900$81,818
10Tchula town1.6x$57,500$35,441

Explore Mississippi Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

All Counties in Mississippi (82)

82 results
City ↕Population ↓Median Income ↕Poverty ↕Home Value ↕
Hinds County222,494$49,96621.6%$151,200
Harrison County209,443$57,23317.4%$199,300
DeSoto County188,598$82,98010.0%$248,700
Rankin County158,218$77,45410.0%$223,400
Jackson County144,437$64,75614.1%$181,700
Madison County110,303$78,79411.0%$286,300
Lee County83,138$67,14413.8%$187,800
Forrest County78,027$52,82121.5%$152,900
Lauderdale County71,984$50,03325.1%$124,500
Jones County66,839$51,14320.8%$126,800
Lamar County65,081$69,10616.1%$218,700
Lowndes County58,187$54,46016.9%$157,400
Lafayette County56,920$64,33418.7%$260,500
Pearl River County56,781$56,53516.4%$174,500
Oktibbeha County51,473$43,48228.6%$219,500
Hancock County46,057$67,72813.3%$206,600
Washington County43,674$40,11728.8%$99,300
Warren County43,623$56,64820.3%$144,400
Pike County39,930$41,57827.5%$110,500
Lincoln County34,830$48,31621.3%$131,800
Alcorn County34,500$49,40417.4%$132,300
Monroe County33,928$51,23116.7%$115,200
Marshall County33,899$51,87522.8%$172,200
Panola County32,965$43,99024.1%$121,500
Pontotoc County31,312$52,74114.9%$141,700
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All Cities & Places in Mississippi (419)

419 results
City ↕Population ↓Median Income ↕Poverty ↕Home Value ↕
Jackson city149,827$43,23826.8%$108,200
Gulfport city72,533$46,04424.3%$167,100
Southaven city55,531$76,15912.3%$214,800
Biloxi city49,011$55,95815.7%$203,200
Hattiesburg city48,507$44,14030.4%$153,600
Olive Branch city46,538$98,4215.0%$269,900
Tupelo city37,825$66,31413.8%$201,300
Meridian city34,466$34,65731.9%$100,800
Greenville city28,833$36,29731.8%$100,800
Madison city27,775$120,9184.4%$334,700
Pearl city27,458$54,64312.6%$170,900
Clinton city27,418$70,91310.2%$220,400
Horn Lake city26,622$56,84718.7%$158,900
Oxford city26,086$59,90126.5%$333,400
Starkville city25,611$39,75132.5%$265,900
Brandon city25,352$93,0737.9%$255,900
Ridgeland city24,548$63,47010.1%$259,600
Columbus city23,616$40,58821.6%$121,200
Pascagoula city21,812$43,28628.5%$132,500
Vicksburg city20,944$42,48427.9%$117,000
Gautier city19,026$62,48017.9%$162,700
Ocean Springs city18,561$78,9295.2%$235,100
Hernando city17,580$71,4519.3%$282,200
Laurel city17,129$37,78131.6%$110,200
Long Beach city16,876$71,1217.7%$205,300
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Download Mississippi Data

Free CSV downloads of Mississippi demographic data — no account or payment required.

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Cities Data (CSV) All cities: population, income, housing, race, education
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Counties Data (CSV) All counties: population, income, housing, race, education

Population Overview

Mississippi has a total population of 2,951,438, making it a smaller state in the nation. The median age is 38.4 years, about average the national median of 38.7 years.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mississippi is 38.4 years. This is about average than the state median of 38.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mississippi is $54,915. This is 30% lower than the state median of $78,538. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.1%. This is 53% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.4%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $161,400. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $303,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Mississippi is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 65.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Mississippi is White (non-Hispanic), making up 55.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 36.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (36.9% vs 12.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 19.0%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

24.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 35.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.6%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Mississippi?

Mississippi has a total population of 2,951,438 according to the U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median income in Mississippi?

The median household income in Mississippi is $54,915, which is 30% lower the national median of $78,538.

How many cities are in Mississippi?

Mississippi has 419 Census-designated places (cities, towns, and CDPs) and 82 counties.

What is the poverty rate in Mississippi?

The poverty rate in Mississippi is 19.1%, compared to the national average of 12.4%.

What is the largest city in Mississippi?

The largest city in Mississippi is Jackson city with a population of 149,827.