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COUNTY

Sharkey County

Mississippi · 3,097 residents (2025 est.) · 431.72 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#4Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-18.5%
The short version

Sharkey County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,000. Population has fallen 41% since 2000, a loss of 2,708 residents. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $98,000. The poverty rate of 30.9% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 29% less than the Mississippi median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,872
−41%since 2000
from 6,580 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
9 / sq mi
−25%since 2009
from 12 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
38.4
+25%since 2000
from 30.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,097 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K4K5K6K7K1990201020202024Sharkey County
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(211)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(222)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.4%(249)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 199%(349)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.6%(333)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.5%(368)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.9%(539)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548.2%(317)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.9%(576)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.1%(470)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845%(193)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.2%(45)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,000
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,285 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,927
+92%since 2000
from $11,396 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
23.1%
+12.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
30.9%
−7.4 ptssince 2000
from 38.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.484
+9%since 2010
from 0.445 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing14.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction14.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance9.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade5.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$98,000
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$623
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $283 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 65.5% in 2000
33.5% rent
Vacancy rate
13.8%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
28.8%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 37.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+6%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
10
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sharkey County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic29%(1,911)
Black68.8%(4,527)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(86)
Asian0.3%(17)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic23.3%(904)
Black75.7%(2,933)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(15)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other0.4%(14)
Diversity Score
46
−7%since 2009
from 50 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
18
+32%since 2020
from 14 in 2020
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
Cuban0.3%(12)
Mexican0.1%(3)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.2%(6)
Ancestry
American21.5%(831)
English2.8%(108)
French2.2%(86)
Irish1.6%(61)
German0.6%(24)
Italian0.4%(16)
Scottish0.3%(10)
Welsh0.3%(10)
Dutch0.2%(6)
Polish0.1%(2)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest French population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.1%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
80.1%
+19.5 ptssince 2000
from 60.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.9 min
+7%since 2000
from 17.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.4%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 72.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
1.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−8.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
3.6%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.1%
−8.3 ptssince 2011
from 17.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.2%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 55.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.7%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
22.1%
−44.8 ptssince 2009
from 66.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.9%
−45.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.0%
−5.9 ptssince 2012
from 22.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
16.9%
−59.7 ptssince 2013
from 76.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
48.6%
−11.7 ptssince 2017
from 60.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 99.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married53.5%(848)
Married34%(538)
Widowed4.6%(73)
Divorced7.9%(125)
Women 15+
Never married43.6%(700)
Married26.1%(419)
Widowed17.5%(281)
Divorced12.8%(206)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Sharkey County

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Pop 2,254
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Pop 3,679
Tensas Parish
Pop 3,700
Baca County
Pop 3,347
Places similar to Sharkey County
Head to head

Compare Sharkey County to nearby counties

SHARKEY COUNTY VS
Issaquena County
Income$31,429−21%
Home value$110,800+13%
Population1,263−59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHARKEY COUNTY VS
Humphreys County
Income$33,731−16%
Home value$87,800−10%
Population7,001+126%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHARKEY COUNTY VS
East Carroll Parish
Income$33,341−17%
Home value$100,500+3%
Population6,760+118%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SHARKEY COUNTY VS
Yazoo County
Income$39,295−2%
Home value$153,800+57%
Population22,947+641%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sharkey County, Mississippi?

Sharkey County, Mississippi has about 3,872 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Sharkey County, Mississippi earns about $40,000 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sharkey County, Mississippi expensive?

In Sharkey County, Mississippi, the median home is worth about $98,000, and the typical rent is about $623 a month.

How educated are people in Sharkey County, Mississippi?

About 16.1% of adults age 25 and over in Sharkey County, Mississippi hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sharkey County, Mississippi?

About 30.9% of people in Sharkey County, Mississippi live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sharkey County, Mississippi grown since 1990?

Yes, Sharkey County, Mississippi has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,194 residents, a change of about -45 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9501
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 39159ZIP 38721ZIP 39054ZIP 38765ZIP 39088ZIP 39061
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Sharkey County, Mississippi: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy