Population 52,354 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Meridian
Household size in Meridian
| Period | Meridian | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.67 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.57 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.09 | −0.03 |
The average household in Meridian has 2.50 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.38 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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 Meridian
| Period | Meridian | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2 | 36.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.4 | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.5 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.7 | 39.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Meridian are younger than 38.7 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.2, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the center.
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 Meridian
| Period | Meridian | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.4% | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 14.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 14.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in five households in Meridian (19.0%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Meridian has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Mississippi cities.
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 Meridian
Renters in Meridian
| Period | Meridian | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4% | 29.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.6% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.6% | 31.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.0% | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Meridian than nationally: 41.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 53.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. The renter share has risen 1.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Meridian
| Period | Meridian | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.4% | 16.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.7% | 14.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.7% of the housing in Meridian, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.9 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Meridian
| Period | Meridian | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1984 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Meridian are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Mississippi overall, where the median home dates to 1987. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center. Of the 108 Mississippi cities with 5,000+ people, only nine 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 Meridian
| Period | Meridian | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $617 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $679 | $758 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $807 | $819 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $997 | $1,018 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$380 | +$315 | +$606 |
Rent in Meridian runs $997 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $380 a month from 2006–10, a 62% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 31.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable 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 Meridian
Bachelor's degrees in Meridian
| Period | Meridian | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.2% | 20.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.2% | 21.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.4% | 22.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.4% | 25.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +5.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Meridian: 24.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 4.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the west.
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 Meridian
| Period | Meridian | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.2% | 80.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.4% | 82.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.2% | 84.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.4% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in Meridian never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Meridian
| Period | Meridian | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 9.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Meridian: 7.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Meridian compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian | 2.50 | 38.7 | 19.0% | 41.0% | 15.7% | 1977 | $997 | 24.4% | 84.4% | 7.7% |
| Marion | 2.62 | 34.8 | 30.4% | 30.9% | 10.2% | 1998 | $1,026 | 31.2% | 93.9% | 5.4% |
| Pine Springs | 2.08 | 53.7 | 13.2% | 23.9% | 8.8% | 1994 | $1,166 | 28.3% | 92.3% | 6.5% |
| Russell | 2.52 | 45.9 | 18.0% | 28.2% | 14.0% | 1986 | $1,075 | 16.1% | 82.3% | 4.3% |
| Wolf Springs | 2.63 | 41.2 | 12.5% | 8.7% | 8.9% | 1995 | $984 | 30.6% | 89.4% | 0.7% |
| Vimville | 2.60 | 43.5 | 15.4% | 13.1% | 14.1% | 1989 | $987 | 22.5% | 89.4% | 3.3% |
| Toomsuba | 2.40 | 46.7 | 16.7% | 29.5% | 13.3% | 1984 | $1,065 | 18.2% | 82.0% | 4.0% |
| Meehan | 2.12 | 41.8 | 12.9% | 29.8% | 2.2% | 1997 | $1,044 | 16.6% | 87.8% | 7.4% |
| Schamberville | 2.30 | 48.8 | 14.4% | 11.0% | 8.3% | 1988 | $1,323 | 18.4% | 86.3% | 3.9% |
| Increase | 2.35 | 44.6 | 8.8% | 11.8% | 13.6% | 1989 | $757 | 35.4% | 88.8% | 0.4% |
| Enterprise | 2.60 | 41.0 | 10.2% | 13.4% | 14.2% | 1992 | $921 | 22.4% | 93.6% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Covington, LA · Sebring, FL · Hyattsville, MD · Lancaster, OH · Liverpool, NY · Apache Junction, AZ · Montgomery, TX · Normal, IL · North Highlands, CA · Oak Park, IL
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 Meridian. 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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