Moorhead, Mississippi Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Moorhead, Mississippi had a total population of 1,439, the 159th largest city in Mississippi, with a median household income of $34,625, which is 39% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 25.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 39% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (25.6%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x.
- Unemployment rate of 20.1% is notably above the national average.
Moorhead Quick Facts
How Moorhead 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 | 1,370 | 1,439 | +5.0% |
| Median household income | $35,885 | $34,625 | -3.5% |
| Median home value | $85,600 | $82,000 | -4.2% |
How Moorhead Compares
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+)
Moorhead Rankings in Mississippi
Explore Mississippi Rankings
Other Cities in Sunflower County
Cities Similar to Moorhead
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello | 1,351 | $34,250 | $126,700 | 17.5% | 25.4% |
| Marks | 1,377 | $32,132 | $96,700 | 24.5% | 18.5% |
| Belzoni | 1,306 | $34,318 | $109,600 | 24.7% | 18.8% |
| Shaw | 1,508 | $30,469 | $102,100 | 16.3% | 37.5% |
| Lumberton | 1,320 | $38,147 | $86,200 | 8.5% | 35.7% |
Population Overview
Moorhead is a small community located in Mississippi, within Sunflower County. The total population is 1,439. It ranks as the 159th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi.
Age Demographics
The median age in Moorhead is 33.1 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 13.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Moorhead is $34,625. This is 39% lower than the state median of $56,447. It is also 57% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.6%. This is 36% 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 20.1%. This is 250% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $82,000. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $169,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Moorhead is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 56.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% lower than the state average of 70.0%.
Race & Ethnicity
Moorhead has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 87.0% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 12.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (12.4%) is well below the state average of 55.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (87.0% vs 36.3%).
Education
19.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 22% lower 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 79.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Moorhead, Mississippi is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Mississippi state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Moorhead, Mississippi?
Moorhead, Mississippi has a population of 1,439 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Moorhead, MS?
The median household income in Moorhead is $34,625, which is 57% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Moorhead, MS?
The poverty rate in Moorhead is 25.6%. This means approximately 274 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Moorhead, Mississippi?
Moorhead's population is 12.4% White, 87.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Moorhead, MS?
The median home value in Moorhead is $82,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.4x.
How educated is Moorhead, Mississippi?
19.7% of adults (25+) in Moorhead hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.