Wilkinson County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wilkinson County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 8,376. It is the 74th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wilkinson County is 39.1 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wilkinson County is $35,930. This is 35% lower than the state median of $54,915. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 54% lower. The poverty rate stands at 28.2%. This is 48% 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 7.5%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $80,200. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Wilkinson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 69.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wilkinson County is Black or African American, making up 67.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 27.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (67.2% vs 36.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.6%.

Education

11.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 52% 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 87.5%.