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CITY

Starkville

Mississippi · 25,754 residents (2025 est.) · 27.76 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#180Youngest by median ageof 6,82626.0
The short version

Starkville has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,125. Population has grown 18% since 2000. 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $299,900. At a median age of 26.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 25% less than the Mississippi median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 26.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
50% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 75%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
25,721
+18%since 2000
from 21,869 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
927 / sq mi
+18%since 2000
from 788 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
26.0
+3%since 2000
from 25.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:25,754 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
18K20K22K24K26K1990201020202024Starkville
202426K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,125
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,590 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,393
+105%since 2000
from $16,272 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.2%
+15.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
30.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 31.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.565
+3%since 2010
from 0.547 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade3.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$299,900
+75%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $94,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$916
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $473 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
33.9%
−7.0 ptssince 2000
from 41.0% in 2000
66.1% rent
Vacancy rate
16.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.1%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.4%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.1
+71%since 2000
from 4.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
64
RELATED:See current rent listings in Starkville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic64%(14,005)
Black29.9%(6,538)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(294)
Asian3.7%(819)
Other0%
Diversity Score61.1%(13,368)
2024
White, non-Hispanic52.7%(13,552)
Black36%(9,263)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(979)
Asian4.6%(1,188)
Other2.9%(739)
Diversity Score73.5%(18,914)
Diversity Score
74
+20%since 2000
from 61 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
50.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 45.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 85.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
26.9%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 23.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.3 min
+89%since 2000
from 10.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.2%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 75.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.8%
−9.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.1%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
−6.8 ptssince 2011
from 12.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2011
from 61.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
22.8%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.4%
−23.7 ptssince 2009
from 67.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Female
50.6%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Foreign born
7.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.2%
−47.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2012
from 12.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.6%
−78.7 ptssince 2013
from 86.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.8%
+9.3 ptssince 2017
from 75.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.6%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 93.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Starkville to nearby cities

STARKVILLE VS
West Point
Income$38,064−10%
Home value$153,900−49%
Population9,743−62%
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STARKVILLE VS
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Income$42,235same
Home value$125,700−58%
Population22,792−12%
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STARKVILLE VS
Tupelo
Income$66,257+57%
Home value$212,800−29%
Population38,087+48%
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STARKVILLE VS
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Income$46,303+10%
Home value$145,600−51%
Population12,088−53%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Starkville, Mississippi?

Starkville, Mississippi has about 25,721 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Starkville, Mississippi?

The typical household in Starkville, Mississippi earns about $42,125 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Starkville, Mississippi expensive?

In Starkville, Mississippi, the median home is worth about $299,900, and the typical rent is about $916 a month.

How educated are people in Starkville, Mississippi?

About 50.5% of adults age 25 and over in Starkville, Mississippi hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Starkville, Mississippi?

About 30.7% of people in Starkville, Mississippi live below the federal poverty line.

Has Starkville, Mississippi grown since 1990?

Yes, Starkville, Mississippi has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,263 residents, a change of about 39 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →