Population 2,946,779 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mississippi
Household size in Mississippi
| Period | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.03 |
Households in Mississippi run a little small, averaging 2.57 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.66 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Mississippi
| Period | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Mississippi are younger than 39.4 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 36.7 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Mississippi
| Period | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Mississippi: 14.6% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other state has a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Mississippi
Renters in Mississippi
| Period | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Mississippi own their homes; 30.0% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 51.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 0.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Mississippi
| Period | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Mississippi: 14.1% of homes are empty, 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. Vacancy has edged up 0.5 points since 2006–10, 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 Mississippi
| Period | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Mississippi is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in northern Mississippi, while southwestern Mississippi has the oldest housing.
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 Mississippi
| Period | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $758 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $819 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,018 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$315 | +$606 |
The median renter in Mississippi pays $1,018 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $315 a month from 2006–10, a 45% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in northern Mississippi and lowest in southwestern Mississippi.
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 Mississippi
Bachelor's degrees in Mississippi
| Period | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Mississippi than nationally: 25.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other state has a lower share of college graduates.
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 Mississippi
| Period | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Mississippi never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 6.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Mississippi has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five states.
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 Mississippi
| Period | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Mississippi is close to the national rate: 5.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.6 points from 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).
Mississippi compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 2.57 | 39.4 | 14.6% | 30.0% | 14.1% | 1987 | $1,018 | 25.8% | 87.3% | 5.8% |
| Alabama | 2.56 | 40.2 | 12.2% | 29.8% | 13.5% | 1986 | $1,091 | 29.0% | 88.7% | 4.9% |
| Louisiana | 2.59 | 39.0 | 15.2% | 32.6% | 14.4% | 1984 | $1,122 | 27.5% | 87.2% | 6.5% |
| Arkansas | 2.53 | 39.6 | 12.3% | 33.6% | 13.1% | 1988 | $1,007 | 26.2% | 88.7% | 5.1% |
| Tennessee | 2.53 | 39.9 | 11.8% | 33.1% | 10.1% | 1986 | $1,286 | 31.4% | 89.9% | 4.8% |
| Georgia | 2.73 | 38.6 | 13.4% | 34.3% | 10.3% | 1991 | $1,520 | 35.1% | 89.2% | 5.2% |
| Kentucky | 2.51 | 39.9 | 11.9% | 31.7% | 10.6% | 1982 | $1,024 | 27.6% | 88.8% | 5.1% |
| Missouri | 2.49 | 40.1 | 11.0% | 31.9% | 10.5% | 1978 | $1,122 | 32.6% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| Oklahoma | 2.58 | 38.0 | 12.0% | 34.2% | 11.3% | 1982 | $1,127 | 28.9% | 89.3% | 5.0% |
| Texas | 2.83 | 36.7 | 12.9% | 37.4% | 9.4% | 1992 | $1,560 | 34.0% | 85.8% | 5.3% |
| South Carolina | 2.50 | 41.2 | 11.7% | 28.1% | 11.8% | 1991 | $1,294 | 32.6% | 90.2% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Arizona · Wisconsin · Washington · Virginia · Vermont · Utah · Texas · Tennessee · South Dakota · Minnesota
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 Mississippi. 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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