Bolivar County, Mississippi Demographics 2026
Bolivar County, Mississippi has a population of 30,163, the 26th most populous county in Mississippi. The median household income is $37,315 and the median home value is $123,600. The poverty rate is 33.7%.
Bolivar County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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 Bolivar County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 10,855 | $43,519 | 28.6% | $162,300 |
| Rosedale | 1,871 | $16,691 | 58.3% | $100,800 |
| Shelby | 1,709 | $27,728 | 58.5% | $82,400 |
| Shaw | 1,586 | $23,913 | 40.6% | $84,200 |
| Mound Bayou | 1,526 | $23,194 | 44.5% | $63,100 |
| Renova | 720 | N/A | 38.8% | $112,800 |
| Boyle | 641 | $39,926 | 22.7% | $141,000 |
| Merigold | 634 | $53,558 | 5.1% | $107,600 |
| Benoit | 572 | N/A | 34.6% | $93,800 |
| Duncan | 357 | $46,219 | 22.5% | $9,999 |
| Gunnison | 344 | $23,438 | 54.1% | $75,000 |
| Beulah | 292 | $31,542 | 26.4% | $70,000 |
| Alligator | 209 | N/A | 58.7% | N/A |
| Skene | 146 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Pace | 143 | $30,000 | 4.2% | $73,300 |
| Winstonville | 113 | $46,250 | 33.6% | $133,800 |
| Bolivar | 55 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Symonds | 44 | N/A | 63.6% | N/A |
| Scott | 40 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore Mississippi Rankings
Population Overview
Bolivar County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 30,163. It is the 26th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 19 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bolivar County is 36.6 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 38.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bolivar County is $37,315. This is 32% lower than the state median of $54,915. It is also 52% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 33.7%. This is 77% higher than the state poverty rate of 19.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.5%. This is 24% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $123,600. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $161,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 61.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 69.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Bolivar County is Black or African American, making up 63.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 30.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (63.2% vs 36.9%).
Education
26.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% higher 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 83.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Bolivar 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 Bolivar County, Mississippi?
Bolivar County has a population of 30,163, making it the 26th most populous county in Mississippi.
What is the median income in Bolivar County?
The median household income in Bolivar County is $37,315 with a poverty rate of 33.7%.
How many cities are in Bolivar County, Mississippi?
Bolivar County contains 19 Census-designated places.