Benton County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Name: Benton County, Mississippi Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Benton County, Mississippi has a population of 7,592, the 77th most populous county in Mississippi. The median household income is $42,139 and the median home value is $109,300. The poverty rate is 17.6%.

Benton County Quick Facts

Population 7,592

Median Household Income $42,139

Median Home Value $109,300

Poverty Rate 17.6%

Unemployment Rate 2.7%

Median Age 43.9 years

Homeownership Rate 83.3%

Affordability Ratio 2.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 12.1%

High School Graduation 80.9%

Cities/Places 3

Population 7,592 77th of 82

Median Income $42,139 23% lower than state

Poverty Rate 17.6%

Unemployment 2.7%

Median Household Income

Benton

$42,139

$54,915

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Benton

$109,300

$161,400

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 28.6%

$25K-$50K 28.6%

$50K-$100K 27.7%

$100K+ 15.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

10.1%

$10K-$15K

4.3%

$15K-$20K

7.0%

$20K-$25K

7.2%

$25K-$30K

2.1%

$30K-$35K

5.2%

$35K-$40K

12.7%

$40K-$45K

4.1%

$45K-$50K

4.5%

$50K-$60K

9.1%

$60K-$75K

11.1%

$75K-$100K

7.5%

$100K-$125K

5.5%

$125K-$150K

5.1%

$150K-$200K

1.8%

$200K+

2.7%

Employment

2.7% Unemployment Rate State: 6.0%|National: 5.2%

52.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 83.3%

Renter 16.7%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.6x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.7%

18-34

15.7%

35-54

28.0%

55-74

27.6%

75+

8.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 55 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Benton County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hickory Flat	714	$36,481	31.6%	$100,900
Ashland	562	$44,194	21.5%	$116,900
Snow Lake Shores	414	$51,607	9.9%	$144,700

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

Population Overview

Benton County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 7,592. It is the 77th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Benton County is 43.9 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Benton County is $42,139. This is 23% lower than the state median of $54,915. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 17.6%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 19.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 55% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $109,300. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Benton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 69.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Benton County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 34.3%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.

Education

12.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 24.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 80.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Benton County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Mississippi and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Benton County, Mississippi?

Benton County has a population of 7,592, making it the 77th most populous county in Mississippi.

What is the median income in Benton County?

The median household income in Benton County is $42,139 with a poverty rate of 17.6%.

How many cities are in Benton County, Mississippi?

Benton County contains 3 Census-designated places.