Panola County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Panola County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 32,965. It is the 24th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Panola County is 39.7 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Panola County is $43,990. This is 20% 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 24.1%. This is 27% 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 8.8%. This is 46% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $121,500. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Panola County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Panola County is Black or African American, making up 48.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 46.7%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.

Education

15.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% 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 83.7%.