Hancock County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Hancock County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 46,057. It is the 16th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hancock County is 45.7 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hancock County is $67,728. This is 23% higher than the state median of $54,915. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.3%. This is 30% lower than the state poverty rate of 19.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $206,600. Housing costs are 28% higher than the state median of $161,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 78.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 69.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hancock County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 6.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (83.6% vs 55.4%). The Black or African American population (6.7%) is well below the state average of 36.9%.

Education

24.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% 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 89.7%.