Sunflower County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Sunflower County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 25,328. It is the 36th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sunflower County is 37.6 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sunflower County is $40,265. This is 27% lower than the state median of $54,915. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 49% lower. The poverty rate stands at 29.9%. This is 57% 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 10.9%. This is 82% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $103,400. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Sunflower County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 56.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% lower than the state average of 69.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sunflower County is Black or African American, making up 73.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 23.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (23.3%) is well below the state average of 55.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (73.0% vs 36.9%). The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.

Education

16.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% 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 75.8%.