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CITY

West Hattiesburg

Mississippi · 6,715 residents · 2.41 sq mi
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Part of the Hattiesburg metro area
The short version

With 6,715 people, West Hattiesburg is a city in Mississippi. The poverty rate is 38.5%, above the 12.5% national rate. This skews young, with a median age of 28.8. Owners hold 42% of the housing stock. The median household earns $39,366, about 52% below the national median. Households here earn about 30% less than in Mississippi as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 28.8
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,715
+7%since 2000
from 6,305 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
2,783 / sq mi
+8%since 2009
from 2,566 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
28.8
−4%since 2000
from 29.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
2.41 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K6K7K7K19902000201020202024West Hattiesburg
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 510.8%(728)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 910.7%(721)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.8%(321)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1912%(803)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(396)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416.7%(1,123)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4415.5%(1,039)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 547.2%(483)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 645.8%(392)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.2%(486)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.3%(157)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1%(66)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,366
−38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,663 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,068
+16%since 2000
from $18,988 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.5%
+10.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
38.5%
+24.0 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.500
+7%since 2010
from 0.467 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services15.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade8.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information6.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Public administration6.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade2.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance1.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$213,700
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$978
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $588 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
42.3%
−22.5 ptssince 2000
from 64.7% in 2000
57.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.4%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.90 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.87 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
26.1%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.2%
+25.2 ptssince 2009
from 29.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.4
+55%since 2009
from 3.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
21
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74.1%(4,673)
Black22.1%(1,392)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(87)
Asian1.6%(103)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic23.6%(1,588)
Black56.9%(3,821)
Hispanic / Latino14.3%(963)
Asian1.8%(124)
Other3.3%(219)
Diversity Score
75
+15%since 2009
from 65 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican9.8%(661)
Honduran2.3%(155)
Venezuelan1.7%(116)
Guatemalan0.5%(31)
Asian origin
Asian Indian1.4%(95)
Filipino0.4%(27)
Chinese0%(2)
Ancestry
English6.1%(408)
Irish3.7%(246)
French2.5%(171)
Scotch-Irish2.3%(152)
American1.9%(127)
Scottish1.4%(94)
Arab1.3%(90)
Lebanese1.3%(90)
Swedish1.1%(75)
German1.1%(72)
Italian0.6%(39)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.5%(34)
Dutch0.2%(16)
West Indian0.2%(16)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.6%
−5.7 ptssince 2000
from 36.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.6%
−4.7 ptssince 2000
from 93.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.5 min
+93%since 2000
from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 78.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.3%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
20.8%
+14.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.4%
+5.4 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.9%
−4.1 ptssince 2011
from 70.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
81.6%
+5.0 ptssince 2020
from 76.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
14.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.0%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
42.9%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Female
57.1%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Foreign born
9.1%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2012
from 12.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
19.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2013
from 20.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.8%
+8.5 ptssince 2017
from 73.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
89.0%
+4.4 ptssince 2020
from 84.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
85.3%
+14.9 ptssince 2020
from 70.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
81.5%
−11.3 ptssince 2016
from 92.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
14.1%
+8.8 ptssince 2016
from 5.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married42.4%(913)
Married45.3%(974)
Widowed0.7%(15)
Divorced11.6%(250)
Women 15+
Never married41.3%(1,153)
Married34.9%(976)
Widowed8%(223)
Divorced15.8%(441)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
19.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2013
from 20.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
34.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 32.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
11.6%
+5.6 ptssince 2020
from 6.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
9.4%
−9.7 ptssince 2020
from 19.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
36.9%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 34.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 2.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
44.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2020
from 42.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
45.9%
−5.1 ptssince 2020
from 51.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)14.5%(38)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)8%(21)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era29.8%(78)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 262 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Head to head

Compare West Hattiesburg to nearby cities

WEST HATTIESBURG VS
Hattiesburg
Income$46,342+18%
Home value$165,900−22%
Population48,802+627%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST HATTIESBURG VS
Petal
Income$74,750+90%
Home value$174,900−18%
Population11,694+74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST HATTIESBURG VS
Laurel
Income$47,661+21%
Home value$125,800−41%
Population17,662+163%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WEST HATTIESBURG VS
Bogalusa
Income$30,749−22%
Home value$97,600−54%
Population10,321+54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi?

West Hattiesburg, Mississippi has about 6,715 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi?

The typical household in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi earns about $39,366 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is West Hattiesburg, Mississippi expensive?

In West Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the median home is worth about $213,700, and the typical rent is about $978 a month.

How educated are people in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi?

About 30.6% of adults age 25 and over in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi?

About 38.5% of people in West Hattiesburg, Mississippi live below the federal poverty line.

Has West Hattiesburg, Mississippi grown since 1990?

Yes, West Hattiesburg, Mississippi has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,274 residents, a change of about 23 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 →

West Hattiesburg, Mississippi: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy