United States › Mississippi › Forrest County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Forrest County Mississippi · 78,158 residents · 466 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Forrest County is home to 78,158 people in Mississippi. The median age is 33.4, younger than the US median of 38.8. 25.6% of locals live below the federal poverty line. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $118,100. 2% of locals were born outside the United States. The median household earns $42,298, about 36% below the national median.
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 from 29.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
67K 70K 73K 77K 80K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Forrest County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $42,298
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,420 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,160 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 22.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 3.6%
Transportation & warehousing 3%
Public administration 2.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
Education & health services 0.7%
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$118,100
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$779
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $438 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 60.2% in 2000
44.1% rent
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 63.7%(46,225)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(912)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 55.2%(43,121)
Hispanic / Latino 4.2%(3,258)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data from 22.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 79.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 83.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 62.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 41.3%(12,040)
Women 15+
Never married 41.1%(14,123)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 24.3%(1,030)
Gulf War (1990s) 28.6%(1,216)
Share of the 4,245 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.
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Drill deeper
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%
Population 67,403 −15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income $49,634 +17%
Home value $124,000 +5%
Population 11,577 −85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST COUNTY VS
Stone County
Income $61,413 +45%
Home value $161,100 +36%
Population 19,654 −75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST COUNTY VS
Jones County
Income $52,216 +23%
Home value $143,100 +21%
Population 66,496 −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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