Pearl River County, Mississippi Demographics 2026
Pearl River County, Mississippi has a population of 57,458, the 14th most populous county in Mississippi. The median household income is $58,135 and the median home value is $182,300. The poverty rate is 16.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Pearl River County Quick Facts
How Pearl River 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 | 56,781 | 57,458 | +1.2% |
| Median household income | $56,535 | $58,135 | +2.8% |
| Median home value | $174,500 | $182,300 | +4.5% |
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 Pearl River County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picayune | 11,900 | $41,213 | 20.6% | $157,100 |
| Nicholson | 3,146 | $50,114 | 25.4% | $97,400 |
| Poplarville | 2,847 | $53,603 | 12.8% | $168,100 |
| Hide-A-Way Lake | 2,569 | $69,621 | 5.6% | $195,300 |
Explore Mississippi Rankings
Population Overview
Pearl River County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 57,458. It is the 14th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Pearl River County is 41.6 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Pearl River County is $58,135. This is 3% higher than the state median of $56,447. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.5%. This is 13% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $182,300. Housing costs are 7% higher than the state median of $169,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 80.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 70.0%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Pearl River County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 12.0%. The Black or African American population (12.0%) is well below the state average of 36.3%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.
Education
17.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% 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 88.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Pearl River 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 Pearl River County, Mississippi?
Pearl River County has a population of 57,458, making it the 14th most populous county in Mississippi.
What is the median income in Pearl River County?
The median household income in Pearl River County is $58,135 with a poverty rate of 16.5%.
How many cities are in Pearl River County, Mississippi?
Pearl River County contains 4 Census-designated places.