DeSoto County, Mississippi Demographics 2026
DeSoto County, Mississippi has a population of 191,301, the 3rd most populous county in Mississippi. The median household income is $85,297 and the median home value is $269,600. The poverty rate is 9.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
DeSoto County Quick Facts
How DeSoto County 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 | 188,598 | 191,301 | +1.4% |
| Median household income | $82,980 | $85,297 | +2.8% |
| Median home value | $248,700 | $269,600 | +8.4% |
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
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 56 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in DeSoto County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southaven | 56,226 | $78,483 | 12.6% | $236,300 |
| Olive Branch | 47,019 | $100,606 | 4.6% | $290,000 |
| Horn Lake | 26,647 | $53,311 | 19.0% | $171,400 |
| Hernando | 17,949 | $76,950 | 8.8% | $315,900 |
| Bridgetown | 3,195 | $139,224 | 1.0% | $344,500 |
| Lynchburg | 2,161 | $88,750 | 7.1% | $222,300 |
| Walls | 1,426 | $58,920 | 16.2% | $193,300 |
| Eudora | 620 | $89,391 | 8.2% | $263,900 |
| Lakeview | 596 | N/A | 10.1% | N/A |
Explore Mississippi Rankings
Population Overview
DeSoto County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 191,301. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in DeSoto County is 37.3 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in DeSoto County is $85,297. This is 51% higher than the state median of $56,447. It is also 6% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.7%. This is 49% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $269,600. Housing costs are 59% higher than the state median of $169,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 77.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 70.0%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in DeSoto County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 56.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 32.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (5.8% vs 3.7%).
Education
29.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places DeSoto County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 15% higher 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 91.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for DeSoto County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, 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 DeSoto County, Mississippi?
DeSoto County has a population of 191,301, making it the 3rd most populous county in Mississippi.
What is the median income in DeSoto County?
The median household income in DeSoto County is $85,297 with a poverty rate of 9.7%.
How many cities are in DeSoto County, Mississippi?
DeSoto County contains 9 Census-designated places.