Skip to main content

Lee County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Lee County, Mississippi has a population of 83,034, the 7th most populous county in Mississippi. The median household income is $67,863 and the median home value is $199,500. The poverty rate is 14.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Lee County Quick Facts

Population 83,034
Median Household Income $67,863
Median Home Value $199,500
Poverty Rate 14.5%
Unemployment Rate 5.1%
Median Age 37.5 years
Homeownership Rate 70.8%
Affordability Ratio 2.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 28.6%
High School Graduation 87.6%
Cities/Places 10
Population 83,034 7th of 82
Median Income $67,863 20% higher than state
Poverty Rate 14.5%
Unemployment 5.1%

How Lee County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population83,13883,034-0.1%
Median household income$67,144$67,863+1.1%
Median home value$187,800$199,500+6.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.2%
$25K-$50K 19.1%
$50K-$100K 28.3%
$100K+ 32.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.7%
$10K-$15K
4.9%
$15K-$20K
4.9%
$20K-$25K
3.8%
$25K-$30K
4.9%
$30K-$35K
3.3%
$35K-$40K
3.5%
$40K-$45K
3.5%
$45K-$50K
3.9%
$50K-$60K
5.9%
$60K-$75K
8.7%
$75K-$100K
13.7%
$100K-$125K
11.6%
$125K-$150K
7.6%
$150K-$200K
6.1%
$200K+
7.1%

Employment

5.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%
62.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.8%
Renter 29.2%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $957/mo 16.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

52out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 56 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Lee County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Tupelo37,791$66,25715.1%$212,800
Saltillo4,952$80,6406.8%$204,900
Baldwyn3,138$43,84121.8%$98,600
Verona2,748$46,14821.9%$118,300
Guntown2,594$95,6259.8%$210,600
Mooreville2,154$118,33310.8%$177,900
Nettleton1,853$41,84220.8%$119,900
Shannon1,383$42,29724.1%$130,900
Plantersville929$25,66244.5%$125,000
Sherman545$52,40422.8%$158,900

Population Overview

Lee County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 83,034. It is the 7th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lee County is 37.5 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lee County is $67,863. 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 14.5%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $199,500. Housing costs are 17% higher than the state median of $169,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Lee County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lee County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 29.9%.

Education

28.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% 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 87.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lee 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 Lee County, Mississippi?

Lee County has a population of 83,034, making it the 7th most populous county in Mississippi.

What is the median income in Lee County?

The median household income in Lee County is $67,863 with a poverty rate of 14.5%.

How many cities are in Lee County, Mississippi?

Lee County contains 10 Census-designated places.