Population 29,534 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bolivar County
Household size in Bolivar County
| Period | Bolivar County | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.70 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.67 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.50 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.57 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.35 | −0.09 | −0.03 |
Households in Bolivar County are small: just 2.35 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.70, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Bolivar County
| Period | Bolivar County | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9 | 36.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.3 | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.8 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.5 | 39.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.6 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Bolivar County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.5, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 33.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Bolivar County
| Period | Bolivar County | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.5% | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.4% | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 20.3% | 14.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 22.1% | 14.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head more than one in five households in Bolivar County (22.1%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 1.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Bolivar County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Mississippi counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Bolivar County
Renters in Bolivar County
| Period | Bolivar County | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.8% | 29.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 43.8% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.4% | 31.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.4% | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.5 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Bolivar County is about as common as it is nationally: 37.4% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Mississippi as a whole (30.0%). Among homeowners, 54.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 6.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Bolivar County
| Period | Bolivar County | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 16.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 14.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Bolivar County: 12.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Still, the rate is lower than in Mississippi as a whole (14.1%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Bolivar County
| Period | Bolivar County | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1984 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Bolivar County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1978, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Mississippi overall, where the median home dates to 1987. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the southeast has the oldest housing. Only seven of Mississippi's 82 counties have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Bolivar County
| Period | Bolivar County | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $571 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $602 | $758 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $682 | $819 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $801 | $1,018 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$230 | +$315 | +$606 |
The median renter in Bolivar County pays $801 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $230 a month since 2006–10, up 40%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 34.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Bolivar County
Bachelor's degrees in Bolivar County
| Period | Bolivar County | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 20.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 21.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 22.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.3% | 25.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +5.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Bolivar County than nationally: 29.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Even so, the share is higher than in Mississippi overall (25.8%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.8 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Bolivar County
| Period | Bolivar County | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.3% | 80.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.4% | 82.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.3% | 84.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.7% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.5 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Bolivar County never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 12.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Bolivar County
| Period | Bolivar County | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.7% | 9.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.6% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −10.0 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Bolivar County runs well above the national rate: 7.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 10.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Bolivar County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar County | 2.35 | 38.5 | 22.1% | 37.4% | 12.2% | 1978 | $801 | 29.3% | 84.7% | 7.7% |
| Desha County | 2.37 | 41.0 | 19.3% | 43.2% | 19.8% | 1979 | $741 | 12.4% | 79.4% | 8.0% |
| Grenada County | 2.59 | 39.6 | 20.3% | 33.4% | 17.9% | 1982 | $837 | 21.6% | 84.0% | 6.6% |
| Drew County | 2.32 | 37.3 | 15.1% | 36.3% | 11.7% | 1985 | $774 | 25.6% | 88.9% | 7.9% |
| Dallas County | 2.34 | 46.8 | 14.7% | 27.4% | 26.9% | 1979 | $635 | 12.0% | 85.7% | 9.2% |
| Clay County | 2.36 | 41.9 | 17.6% | 28.7% | 14.1% | 1984 | $932 | 17.2% | 83.9% | 7.1% |
| Nevada County | 2.48 | 41.5 | 14.2% | 24.0% | 24.3% | 1983 | $861 | 14.7% | 90.2% | 4.3% |
| Lamar County | 2.78 | 45.4 | 10.6% | 24.3% | 29.3% | 1979 | $620 | 12.1% | 84.0% | 5.0% |
| Hempstead County | 2.63 | 41.2 | 12.6% | 28.3% | 21.4% | 1980 | $772 | 17.3% | 81.7% | 5.8% |
| Fayette County | 2.57 | 43.9 | 10.1% | 21.6% | 19.7% | 1982 | $709 | 14.2% | 85.3% | 8.7% |
| Little River County | 2.47 | 42.6 | 13.1% | 19.9% | 18.8% | 1981 | $800 | 17.6% | 91.6% | 7.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Mississippi County, AR · Audrain County, MO · Waldo County, ME · Avoyelles Parish, LA · Baker County, FL · Utuado Municipio, PR · Union County, OR · Becker County, MN · Todd County, MN · Calloway County, KY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Bolivar County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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