De Soto, Mississippi Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 178, De Soto's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

De Soto is a small community located in Mississippi, within Clarke County. The total population is 178. It ranks as the 362nd most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in De Soto is 30.7 years. This is 20% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 33.7% of the population under 18, De Soto has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 18.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in De Soto is $35,139. This is 38% lower than the state median of $56,447. It is also 56% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 37.9%. This is 100% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in De Soto, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $218,800. Housing costs are 29% higher than the state median of $169,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 43% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in De Soto is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 19.1%.

Education

20.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% 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 83.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for De Soto, 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.