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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Forrest County

Mississippi · 78,158 residents · 466.042 sq mi
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The short version

Forrest County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,298. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $118,100. At a median age of 33.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 25.6% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 33.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
78,158
+8%since 2000
from 72,604 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
168 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 156 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
33.4
+12%since 2000
from 29.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
67K70K73K77K80K1990201020202024Forrest County
202478K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,298
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,420 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,590
+56%since 2000
from $15,160 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
23.6%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
25.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 22.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade7.9%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade5.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing1.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$118,100
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$779
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $438 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
55.9%
−4.3 ptssince 2000
from 60.2% in 2000
44.1% rent
Afford Score
2.8
+18%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forrest County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic63.7%(46,225)
Black33.4%(24,225)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(912)
Asian0.7%(535)
Other0%
Diversity Score59.1%(42,917)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic55.2%(43,121)
Black36%(28,151)
Hispanic / Latino4.2%(3,258)
Asian1%(789)
Other2.4%(1,854)
Diversity Score69%(53,955)
Segregation Score52.1%(40,705)
Diversity Score
69
+17%since 2000
from 59 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
52
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.7%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 22.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.5%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 79.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.8%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.1 min
+52%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
81.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 10.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
61.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 62.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
34.3%
−29.0 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
52.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
2.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
13.5%
−69.2 ptssince 2013
from 82.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Forrest County

White County
Pop 80,085
DeKalb County
Pop 74,085
Grant County
Pop 66,524
Talladega County
Pop 81,603
Places similar to Forrest County
Head to head

Compare Forrest County to nearby counties

FORREST COUNTY VS
Lamar County
Income$70,909+68%
Home value$224,700+90%
Population67,403−15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income$49,634+17%
Home value$124,000+5%
Population11,577−85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST COUNTY VS
Stone County
Income$61,413+45%
Home value$161,100+36%
Population19,654−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST COUNTY VS
Jones County
Income$52,216+23%
Home value$143,100+21%
Population66,496−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forrest County, Mississippi?

Forrest County, Mississippi has about 78,158 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forrest County, Mississippi?

The typical household in Forrest County, Mississippi earns about $42,298 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forrest County, Mississippi expensive?

In Forrest County, Mississippi, the median home is worth about $118,100, and the typical rent is about $779 a month.

How educated are people in Forrest County, Mississippi?

About 27.7% of adults age 25 and over in Forrest County, Mississippi hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forrest County, Mississippi?

About 25.6% of people in Forrest County, Mississippi live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forrest County, Mississippi grown since 1990?

Yes, Forrest County, Mississippi has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,844 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

21 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 101.01Census Tract 8Census Tract 105Census Tract 9Census Tract 106.02Census Tract 104Census Tract 10Census Tract 106.01Census Tract 11Census Tract 101.04Census Tract 6.02Census Tract 103Census Tract 102.01Census Tract 7Census Tract 102.02Census Tract 3Census Tract 101.03Census Tract 2Census Tract 6.01Census Tract 5
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 39401ZIP 39465ZIP 39406
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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