Clarksdale, Mississippi Demographics & Population 2026

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

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High PovertyPoverty rate of 40.3% is well above the state average

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Very AffordableHome value to income ratio of 2.3x is exceptionally low

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Clarksdale, Mississippi had a total population of 14,231, the 27th largest city in Mississippi, with a median household income of $36,382, which is 36% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 40.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 36% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (40.3%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x.
Unemployment rate of 10.8% is notably above the national average.

Clarksdale Quick Facts

Population 14,231

Median Household Income $36,382

Median Home Value $83,900

Poverty Rate 40.3%

Unemployment Rate 10.8%

Median Age 34.9 years

Homeownership Rate 45.9%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.4%

High School Graduation Rate 81.5%

Diversity Index 33/100

Population 14,231 27th of 420

Median Income $36,382 bottom 30%

Poverty Rate 40.3% 224% higher than national

Median Home Value $83,900 bottom 20%

How Clarksdale Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	14,423	14,231	-1.3%
Median household income	$35,210	$36,382	+3.3%
Median home value	$84,200	$83,900	-0.4%

How Clarksdale Compares

Median Household Income

Clarksdale

$36,382

$56,447

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Clarksdale

$83,900

$169,800

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 35.4%

$25K-$50K 30.8%

$50K-$100K 23.2%

$100K+ 10.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

10.7%

$10K-$15K

8.9%

$15K-$20K

6.7%

$20K-$25K

9.0%

$25K-$30K

8.7%

$30K-$35K

3.9%

$35K-$40K

7.5%

$40K-$45K

6.5%

$45K-$50K

4.3%

$50K-$60K

7.7%

$60K-$75K

6.7%

$75K-$100K

8.8%

$100K-$125K

5.2%

$125K-$150K

1.4%

$150K-$200K

1.8%

$200K+

2.3%

Employment

10.8% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

54.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 45.9%

Renter 54.1%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $774/mo 25.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

27.3%

18-34

22.9%

35-54

21.4%

55-74

22.3%

75+

6.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 56 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Clarksdale Rankings in Mississippi

#27 Population of 420

#263 Median Income of 349

#189 Education of 419

#287 Home Value of 354

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

Other Cities in Coahoma County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Friars Point	884	$17,205	49.7%	$56,400
Jonestown	852	$21,750	56.3%	$61,100
Lyon	386	$83,438	3.6%	$151,800
Lula	217	$36,250	30.4%	$73,800
Coahoma	208	$25,054	36.1%	$58,000
Bobo	194	N/A	11.3%	N/A
Farrell	133	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Rena Lara	104	$96,500	10.6%	$118,800
Dublin	4	N/A	N/A	N/A

Cities Similar to Clarksdale

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Natchez	14,192	$36,735	$119,400	27.3%	33.7%
Greenwood	14,086	$35,473	$108,900	24.5%	28.3%
Corinth	14,323	$44,226	$177,100	25.1%	18.7%
Brookhaven	11,650	$36,685	$121,900	21.3%	28.6%
McComb	12,049	$40,707	$98,700	14.6%	27.1%

Population Overview

Clarksdale is a small city located in Mississippi, within Coahoma County. The total population is 14,231. It ranks as the 27th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clarksdale is 34.9 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clarksdale is $36,382. This is 36% lower than the state median of $56,447. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 40.3%. This is 113% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. 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 10.8%. This is 87% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $83,900. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $169,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Clarksdale is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 45.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% lower than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clarksdale is Black or African American, making up 80.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 13.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (13.4%) is well below the state average of 55.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (80.9% vs 36.3%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 25.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Clarksdale, Mississippi is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Mississippi state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Clarksdale, Mississippi?

Clarksdale, Mississippi has a population of 14,231 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Clarksdale, MS?

The median household income in Clarksdale is $36,382, which is 55% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Clarksdale, MS?

The poverty rate in Clarksdale is 40.3%. This means approximately 5,650 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Clarksdale, Mississippi?

Clarksdale's population is 13.4% White, 80.9% Black, 3.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.

What is the median home value in Clarksdale, MS?

The median home value in Clarksdale is $83,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.3x.

How educated is Clarksdale, Mississippi?

19.4% of adults (25+) in Clarksdale hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.