Your life in Harrison County, Mississippi

What stands out

Three things set Harrison County apart from the other 3,142 counties: home internet speed is among the fastest in America (328 Mbps), rainfall is in the top 3% of American counties (60 inches a year), and natural-hazard risk is in the top 3% of American counties (97 of 100). Within Mississippi it ranks 2nd of 82 counties for home internet speed.

Where you are

You live in Harrison County, Mississippi. 208,748 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.1% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -450).

Mississippi exempts all retirement income from its income tax, which is a flat 4% on income over $10,000 for 2026 and is scheduled to be eliminated over the coming decade. Home prices and overall cost of living are the lowest in the country. The state also ranks last or near last on health, income and school measures, and the Gulf coast carries hurricane exposure.

Money

The typical household here brings in $55,211 a year, lower than 67% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $48,164. Unemployment runs 3.8%, higher than 63% of American counties. 5% of workers work from home.

Mississippi takes 3.3% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,808 a year.

Home

The median home costs $229K, cheaper than 52% of American counties, about 2.7 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $958 a month. Property tax is 0.68% of home value, roughly $1,261 a year on that median home, lower than 67% of American counties. 60% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.8 per 1,000 residents, lower than 57% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 27 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 73.1 years, shorter than 79% of American counties. There are 523 active physicians in the county, about 25.1 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.8 of 5 stars. 12.7% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.33 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 89% of American counties. 89% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 33 points. 49% of eligible voters turned out. Under Mississippi law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 69°F, highs near 79 and lows near 59, warmer than 94% of American counties. About 60 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 97 out of 100, riskier than 97% of American counties; the county has had 37 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 328 Mbps down, faster than almost every county in America. There are 4 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.9 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 2 breweries, 8 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Mississippi tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.