Hancock County, Mississippi Demographics 2026
Hancock County, Mississippi has a population of 46,167, the 16th most populous county in Mississippi. The median household income is $67,708 and the median home value is $224,200. The poverty rate is 13.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Hancock County Quick Facts
How Hancock 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 | 46,057 | 46,167 | +0.2% |
| Median household income | $67,728 | $67,708 | -0.0% |
| Median home value | $206,600 | $224,200 | +8.5% |
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 less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 56 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Hancock County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay St. Louis | 10,188 | $67,442 | 14.5% | $260,200 |
| Diamondhead | 9,338 | $87,407 | 7.0% | $259,600 |
| Waveland | 7,062 | $68,693 | 10.8% | $218,900 |
| Kiln | 2,016 | $71,875 | 18.2% | $167,500 |
| Pearlington | 1,278 | $44,507 | 22.6% | $98,100 |
Explore Mississippi Rankings
Population Overview
Hancock County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 46,167. It is the 16th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Hancock County is 46.6 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Hancock County is $67,708. This is 20% higher than the state median of $56,447. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is 27% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $224,200. Housing costs are 32% higher than the state median of $169,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 79.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 70.0%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Hancock County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 7.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (83.4% vs 55.2%). The Black or African American population (7.1%) is well below the state average of 36.3%.
Education
26.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 6% 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 88.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Hancock 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 Hancock County, Mississippi?
Hancock County has a population of 46,167, making it the 16th most populous county in Mississippi.
What is the median income in Hancock County?
The median household income in Hancock County is $67,708 with a poverty rate of 13.8%.
How many cities are in Hancock County, Mississippi?
Hancock County contains 5 Census-designated places.