A life in Lowndes County, Mississippi

Where you are

You live in Lowndes County, Mississippi. 58,547 people live here with you. The population shrank 0.7% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -481).

Mississippi exempts all retirement income from its income tax, which is being cut toward a flat rate under 4% 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 $53,687 a year, lower than 70% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $56,640. Unemployment runs 4.1%, higher than 73% of American counties. 5% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 20 minutes each way.

Mississippi takes 4.4% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,362 a year.

Home

The median home costs $191K, cheaper than 67% of American counties, about 2.1 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $795 a month. Property tax is 0.61% of home value, roughly $948 a year on that median home, lower than 76% of American counties. 62% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.5 per 1,000 residents, lower than 71% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 12 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 72.3 years, shorter than 86% of American counties. There are 121 active physicians in the county, about 20.7 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 11.2% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.79 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 77% of American counties. 88% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 12 points. 61% 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 65°F, highs near 76 and lows near 53, warmer than 82% of American counties. About 55 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 78 out of 100, riskier than 78% of American counties; the county has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 301 Mbps down, faster than 95% of American counties. There are 4 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 3 museums.

Sources for this story

• 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
• DataSpine derived — 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.