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COUNTY

Winston County

Mississippi · 17,473 residents (2025 est.) · 607.251 sq mi
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The short version

Winston County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,031. Population has declined 13% since 2000. 20% 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 $124,600. The poverty rate of 26.9% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% 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
17,536
−13%since 2000
from 20,160 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
29 / sq mi
−10%since 2009
from 32 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.8
+18%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,473 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
17K18K19K20K20K1990201020202024Winston County
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(951)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(1,093)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(1,056)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.1%(1,243)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.7%(1,003)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.2%(1,784)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.9%(2,264)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.6%(2,029)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.2%(2,312)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.5%(2,193)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.9%(1,203)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.3%(405)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,031
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,256 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,301
+115%since 2000
from $14,548 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.6%
+18.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
26.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 23.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.500
+9%since 2010
from 0.459 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$124,600
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$721
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $370 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.0%
−6.7 ptssince 2000
from 79.7% in 2000
27.0% rent
Vacancy rate
13.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.8%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
35.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 39.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
62
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Winston County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic54.7%(11,024)
Black43.1%(8,687)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(243)
Asian0.1%(16)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic49.4%(8,662)
Black47.1%(8,260)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(105)
Asian0.1%(18)
Other2.8%(491)
Diversity Score
67
+5%since 2009
from 64 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
23
+4%since 2020
from 22 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
Mexican0.3%(54)
Puerto Rican0.1%(14)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(18)
Ancestry
American11%(1,926)
English7.9%(1,386)
Irish7%(1,226)
German2.3%(406)
Scottish1.8%(316)
Italian0.5%(95)
Welsh0.4%(73)
French0.4%(70)
Arab0.2%(41)
Lithuanian0.2%(41)
British0.2%(34)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.1%(19)
Polish0.1%(14)
Greek0%(8)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.7%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 13.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.1%
+17.0 ptssince 2000
from 68.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.0 min
+37%since 2000
from 18.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.6%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 79.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.0%
−11.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% 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
7.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.7%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 13.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.7%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 57.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.0%
−26.6 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−41.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.6%
+4.5 ptssince 2012
from 19.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.5%
−70.7 ptssince 2013
from 81.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
75.4%
+20.6 ptssince 2017
from 54.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 99.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married37.1%(2,605)
Married46.7%(3,278)
Widowed3%(212)
Divorced13.1%(921)
Women 15+
Never married33.4%(2,480)
Married41.3%(3,063)
Widowed13.9%(1,031)
Divorced11.4%(846)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Winston County to nearby counties

WINSTON COUNTY VS
Choctaw County
Income$50,919−4%
Home value$117,200−6%
Population8,048−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON COUNTY VS
Neshoba County
Income$57,013+8%
Home value$100,000−20%
Population28,732+64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON COUNTY VS
Oktibbeha County
Income$46,695−12%
Home value$237,700+91%
Population51,896+197%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WINSTON COUNTY VS
Noxubee County
Income$33,833−36%
Home value$90,800−27%
Population9,798−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Winston County, Mississippi?

Winston County, Mississippi has about 17,536 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Winston County, Mississippi earns about $53,031 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Winston County, Mississippi expensive?

In Winston County, Mississippi, the median home is worth about $124,600, and the typical rent is about $721 a month.

How educated are people in Winston County, Mississippi?

About 19.7% of adults age 25 and over in Winston County, Mississippi hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Winston County, Mississippi?

About 26.9% of people in Winston County, Mississippi live below the federal poverty line.

Has Winston County, Mississippi grown since 1990?

Yes, Winston County, Mississippi has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,897 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9501
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 39339ZIP 39346
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →