Forrest County is home to 78,272 people in Mississippi. The median age is 32.0, younger than the US median of 38.9. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $168,000. 3% of locals were born outside the United States. 21.0% of locals live below the federal poverty line. Owners hold 57% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $53,640, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.0
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Forrest County
What changed most since 1990
Hispanic share0.8% → 4.4%(+3.6 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
White share67.7% → 55.8%(−11.9 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Poverty rate27.5% → 21.0%(−6.5 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
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)25.3%(978)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)27.8%(1,076)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era36.4%(1,405)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.6%(101)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 3,864 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
Over time
Forrest County, decade by decade
Forrest County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
68,314
$43,168
$106,563
19.8%
56.0
2000
72,604
$49,950
$118,043
22.8%
60.4
2010
74,934
$49,556
$158,818
25.9%
66.0
2020
78,158
$51,267
$143,142
27.7%
70.4
2024
78,272
$53,640
$168,000
30.6%
70.0
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
