West, Mississippi Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 175, West's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

West is a small community located in Mississippi, within Holmes County. The total population is 175. It ranks as the 365th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in West is 27.7 years. This is 28% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 5.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West is $88,977. This is 58% higher than the state median of $56,447. It is also 10% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.3%. This is 88% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in West, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $82,900. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $169,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.9x, West is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in West is Black or African American, making up 54.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 45.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (54.9% vs 36.3%).

Education

16.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% 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 75.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West, 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.