West Hattiesburg, Mississippi Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

West Hattiesburg is a small city located in Mississippi, within Lamar County. The total population is 6,715. It ranks as the 57th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Hattiesburg is 28.8 years. This is 25% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 33.8% of the population under 18, West Hattiesburg has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Hattiesburg is $39,366. This is 30% lower than the state median of $56,447. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 38.5%. This is 104% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. 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 11.4%. This is 97% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $213,700. Housing costs are 26% higher than the state median of $169,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 42.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 40% lower than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in West Hattiesburg is Black or African American, making up 56.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 23.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (23.6%) is well below the state average of 55.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (56.9% vs 36.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (14.3% vs 3.7%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (1.8% vs 1.0%).

Education

30.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 22% 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 88.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Hattiesburg, Mississippi is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Mississippi state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.