Rankin County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Rankin County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 158,218. It is the 4th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rankin County is 39.4 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rankin County is $77,454. This is 41% higher than the state median of $54,915. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 1% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 47% lower than the state poverty rate of 19.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $223,400. Housing costs are 38% higher than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Rankin 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 Rankin County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 21.6%.

Education

32.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Rankin County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 36% higher 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 90.3%.