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Rankin County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Rankin County, Mississippi has a population of 158,854, the 4th most populous county in Mississippi. The median household income is $79,357 and the median home value is $237,400. The poverty rate is 9.8%.

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

Rankin County Quick Facts

Population 158,854
Median Household Income $79,357
Median Home Value $237,400
Poverty Rate 9.8%
Unemployment Rate 4.3%
Median Age 39.6 years
Homeownership Rate 76.8%
Affordability Ratio 3.0x
Bachelor's Degree+ 33.5%
High School Graduation 90.3%
Cities/Places 9
Population 158,854 4th of 82
Median Income $79,357 41% higher than state
Poverty Rate 9.8%
Unemployment 4.3%

How Rankin 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
Population158,218158,854+0.4%
Median household income$77,454$79,357+2.5%
Median home value$223,400$237,400+6.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 13.1%
$25K-$50K 17.0%
$50K-$100K 30.3%
$100K+ 39.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.3%
$10K-$15K
3.5%
$15K-$20K
2.5%
$20K-$25K
3.7%
$25K-$30K
2.7%
$30K-$35K
3.4%
$35K-$40K
3.1%
$40K-$45K
4.3%
$45K-$50K
3.5%
$50K-$60K
6.3%
$60K-$75K
11.2%
$75K-$100K
12.8%
$100K-$125K
12.4%
$125K-$150K
8.7%
$150K-$200K
9.8%
$200K+
8.7%

Employment

4.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%
63.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.8%
Renter 23.2%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,270/mo 19.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

45out 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 Rankin County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Pearl27,737$61,69512.2%$182,500
Brandon25,542$92,7838.5%$278,900
Flowood10,587$83,88013.4%$342,200
Richland7,346$66,55812.7%$125,800
Florence4,696$86,3086.7%$230,800
Cleary2,295N/A15.3%$166,400
Pelahatchie1,423$56,32215.0%$158,200
Robinhood1,298$69,87514.1%$93,100
Puckett463$69,28624.8%$173,800

Population Overview

Rankin County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 158,854. It is the 4th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rankin County is 39.6 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rankin County is $79,357. This is 41% higher than the state median of $56,447. It is also 2% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.8%. This is 48% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $237,400. Housing costs are 40% higher than the state median of $169,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 76.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rankin County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 20.9%.

Education

33.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Rankin County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 33% 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 90.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Rankin 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 Rankin County, Mississippi?

Rankin County has a population of 158,854, making it the 4th most populous county in Mississippi.

What is the median income in Rankin County?

The median household income in Rankin County is $79,357 with a poverty rate of 9.8%.

How many cities are in Rankin County, Mississippi?

Rankin County contains 9 Census-designated places.