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COUNTY

Sunflower County

Mississippi · 22,893 residents (2025 est.) · 698 sq mi
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The short version

With 24,333 people, Sunflower County is a county in Mississippi. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The poverty rate is 28.9%, above the 12.5% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $100,300. The foreign-born share is 2%. Households take in $39,956 at the median, 51% less than the US figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.1
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
24,333
−29%since 2000
from 34,369 in 2000
22,893 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
35 / sq mi
−20%since 2009
from 44 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
37.1
+23%since 2000
from 30.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
698 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
23K26K29K32K35K19902000201020202024Sunflower County
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.5%(1,348)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(1,259)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.3%(1,528)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.9%(1,923)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.7%(1,630)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416%(3,888)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.9%(3,133)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.2%(2,960)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412%(2,918)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.5%(2,323)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.2%(1,020)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(403)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,956
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,970 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,138
+86%since 2000
from $11,365 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.8%
+16.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
28.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 30.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.503
+1%since 2010
from 0.498 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$100,300
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$694
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $357 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
54.9%
−6.9 ptssince 2000
from 61.8% in 2000
45.1% rent
Vacancy rate
14.7%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.64 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.75 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
14.4%
−18.2 ptssince 2009
from 32.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.7%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
−2%since 2009
from 2.6 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
40
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic28.5%(9,799)
Black69.5%(23,871)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(448)
Asian0.4%(136)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic22.9%(5,582)
Black72.7%(17,679)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(692)
Asian0.2%(48)
Other1.4%(332)
Diversity Score
52
Unchangedsince 2009
from 53 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
27
−3%since 2020
from 28 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
Mexican1.6%(390)
Honduran0.6%(137)
Puerto Rican0.3%(85)
Guatemalan0.2%(55)
Cuban0.1%(19)
Asian origin
Chinese0.2%(40)
Ancestry
American8.6%(2,094)
English7.4%(1,789)
Irish3.5%(860)
German2.4%(580)
Italian0.7%(172)
Scottish0.4%(86)
French0.2%(54)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(47)
Dutch0.1%(31)
Welsh0.1%(21)
Swedish0%(12)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.0%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
75.5%
+16.1 ptssince 2000
from 59.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.2 min
+44%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 76.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.2%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.6%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% 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
8.9%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.2%
−8.6 ptssince 2011
from 19.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.6%
+5.3 ptssince 2011
from 45.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
70.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 70.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
18.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.7%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
Female
47.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2012
from 12.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.4%
−9.2 ptssince 2013
from 20.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
74.5%
+20.6 ptssince 2017
from 53.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
91.5%
+11.4 ptssince 2020
from 80.1% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
90.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 89.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
97.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 98.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married56.7%(6,051)
Married29.9%(3,191)
Widowed3%(321)
Divorced10.5%(1,117)
Women 15+
Never married43.6%(4,153)
Married33.4%(3,183)
Widowed13.6%(1,297)
Divorced9.3%(885)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
11.4%
−9.2 ptssince 2013
from 20.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
34.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 35.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
16.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 13.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
21.8%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 19.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
38.8%
+3.6 ptssince 2020
from 35.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 1.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
47.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 47.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
49.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2020
from 46.4% 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)19.3%(136)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)23.4%(165)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.5%(215)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5%(35)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.1%(1)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 706 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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Sunflower County

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Pop 21,800
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Pop 18,965
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Pop 22,483
Sumter County
Pop 28,801
Places similar to Sunflower County
Head to head

Compare Sunflower County to nearby counties

SUNFLOWER COUNTY VS
Leflore County
Income$35,277−12%
Home value$101,200+1%
Population25,686+12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SUNFLOWER COUNTY VS
Bolivar County
Income$39,585−1%
Home value$130,000+30%
Population28,262+23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SUNFLOWER COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income$42,165+6%
Home value$104,000+4%
Population40,446+77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SUNFLOWER COUNTY VS
Humphreys County
Income$33,731−16%
Home value$87,800−12%
Population7,001−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sunflower County, Mississippi?

Sunflower County, Mississippi has about 24,333 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Sunflower County, Mississippi earns about $39,956 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sunflower County, Mississippi expensive?

In Sunflower County, Mississippi, the median home is worth about $100,300, and the typical rent is about $694 a month.

How educated are people in Sunflower County, Mississippi?

About 16.0% of adults age 25 and over in Sunflower County, Mississippi hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sunflower County, Mississippi?

About 28.9% of people in Sunflower County, Mississippi live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sunflower County, Mississippi grown since 1990?

Yes, Sunflower County, Mississippi has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 8,534 residents, a change of about -26 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 →