Winston County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Name: Winston County, Mississippi Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Winston County, Mississippi has a population of 17,609, the 52nd most populous county in Mississippi. The median household income is $49,071 and the median home value is $121,200. The poverty rate is 30.4%.

Winston County Quick Facts

Population 17,609

Median Household Income $49,071

Median Home Value $121,200

Poverty Rate 30.4%

Unemployment Rate 7.9%

Median Age 42.3 years

Homeownership Rate 69.7%

Affordability Ratio 2.5x

Bachelor's Degree+ 18.6%

High School Graduation 83.6%

Cities/Places 2

Population 17,609 52nd of 82

Median Income $49,071 11% lower than state

Poverty Rate 30.4%

Unemployment 7.9%

Median Household Income

Winston

$49,071

$54,915

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Winston

$121,200

$161,400

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 29.2%

$25K-$50K 21.4%

$50K-$100K 30.6%

$100K+ 18.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.6%

$10K-$15K

7.5%

$15K-$20K

10.0%

$20K-$25K

5.0%

$25K-$30K

4.5%

$30K-$35K

4.8%

$35K-$40K

5.7%

$40K-$45K

3.5%

$45K-$50K

2.8%

$50K-$60K

7.7%

$60K-$75K

11.9%

$75K-$100K

11.1%

$100K-$125K

7.9%

$125K-$150K

4.2%

$150K-$200K

2.8%

$200K+

3.9%

Employment

7.9% Unemployment Rate State: 6.0%|National: 5.2%

51.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 69.7%

Renter 30.3%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.5x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.1%

18-34

19.2%

35-54

24.1%

55-74

25.7%

75+

8.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 55 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Winston County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Louisville	6,018	$37,679	40.8%	$135,800
Noxapater	536	$49,861	11.4%	$89,000

Explore Mississippi Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Winston County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 17,609. It is the 52nd most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Winston County is 42.3 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Winston County is $49,071. This is 11% lower than the state median of $54,915. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 30.4%. This is 60% 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 7.9%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $121,200. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Winston County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Winston County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 49.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 47.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.6%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.

Education

18.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% 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 83.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Winston County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), 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 Winston County, Mississippi?

Winston County has a population of 17,609, making it the 52nd most populous county in Mississippi.

What is the median income in Winston County?

The median household income in Winston County is $49,071 with a poverty rate of 30.4%.

How many cities are in Winston County, Mississippi?

Winston County contains 2 Census-designated places.