Kemper County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Kemper County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 8,855. It is the 73rd most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kemper County is 40.7 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kemper County is $43,595. This is 21% lower than the state median of $54,915. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 44% lower. The poverty rate stands at 24.6%. This is 29% higher than the state poverty rate of 19.1%. 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 11.1%. This is 84% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $90,200. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Kemper County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 69.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kemper County is Black or African American, making up 60.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (60.4% vs 36.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.6%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.

Education

17.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% lower 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 79.6%.