Your life in Rankin County, Mississippi

What stands out

Against every county in America, Rankin County is unusual in three ways: home internet speed is in the top 3% of American counties (305 Mbps), rainfall is in the top 9% of American counties (54 inches a year), and the typical two-bedroom rent is in the top 11% of American counties ($1,198 a month). Within Mississippi it ranks 8th of 82 counties for home internet speed.

Where you are

You live in Rankin County, Mississippi. 157,185 people live here with you. The population grew 0.9% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +826).

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 $76,460 a year, higher than 84% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $52,290. Unemployment runs 2.9%, lower than 68% of American counties. 5% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 25 minutes each way.

Mississippi takes 3.5% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,658 a year.

Home

The median home costs $270K, pricier than 62% of American counties, about 2.2 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,198 a month. Property tax is 0.65% of home value, roughly $1,328 a year on that median home, lower than 71% of American counties. 77% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.2 per 1,000 residents, lower than 85% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 8 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 77.4 years, longer than 68% of American counties. There are 474 active physicians in the county, about 30.2 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 1.5 of 5 stars. 9.9% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.27 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 82% of American counties. 90% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 50 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 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 67°F, highs near 79 and lows near 55, warmer than 89% of American counties. About 54 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 85 out of 100, riskier than 85% of American counties; the county has had 24 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 305 Mbps down, faster than 97% of American counties. There are 12 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.6 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

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.