Mississippi County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Mississippi County is located in Missouri with a total population of 12,079. It is the 75th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mississippi County is 42.2 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mississippi County is $46,258. This is 33% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 41% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.0%. This is 82% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. 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 3.8%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $100,300. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Mississippi County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 60.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Mississippi County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (22.7% vs 11.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

14.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.9%.