Benton County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

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.

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. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 46% lower. 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%.