Forrest County, Mississippi Demographics 2026
Forrest County, Mississippi has a population of 78,272, the 8th most populous county in Mississippi. The median household income is $53,640 and the median home value is $168,000. The poverty rate is 21.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Forrest County Quick Facts
How Forrest 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 | 78,027 | 78,272 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $52,821 | $53,640 | +1.6% |
| Median home value | $152,900 | $168,000 | +9.9% |
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 Forrest County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg | 48,619 | $46,342 | 28.3% | $165,900 |
| Petal | 11,294 | $74,750 | 11.1% | $174,900 |
| Rawls Springs | 1,499 | $47,022 | 7.3% | $88,900 |
| Glendale | 1,257 | $56,818 | 30.1% | $158,400 |
| Eastabuchie | 82 | $124,861 | 21.9% | N/A |
Explore Mississippi Rankings
Population Overview
Forrest County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 78,272. It is the 8th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Forrest County is 32.0 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Forrest County is $53,640. This is 5% lower than the state median of $56,447. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.0%. This is 11% 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 6.7%. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $168,000. Housing costs are 1% lower than the state median of $169,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 57.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% lower than the state average of 70.0%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Forrest County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 55.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 35.5%.
Education
30.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Forrest County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 22% 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 91.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Forrest 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 Forrest County, Mississippi?
Forrest County has a population of 78,272, making it the 8th most populous county in Mississippi.
What is the median income in Forrest County?
The median household income in Forrest County is $53,640 with a poverty rate of 21.0%.
How many cities are in Forrest County, Mississippi?
Forrest County contains 5 Census-designated places.