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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Meridian Micro

Meridian, MS · 2 counties · 85,419 residents (2025 est.) · 1,395.25 sq mi
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#29Fastest shrinkingof 918-8.7%
The short version

Meridian has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,986. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 23% 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 $130,619. The poverty rate of 24.7% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% 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
86,818
−10%since 2000
from 96,116 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
62 / sq mi
−10%since 2000
from 69 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.2
+14%since 2000
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:85,419 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
86K89K92K95K98K1990201020202024Meridian
202487K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,986
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,991 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,671
+83%since 2000
from $15,701 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.2%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 21.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.487
+1%since 2010
from 0.484 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade11.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing1%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$130,619
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,329 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$926
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $395 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.1%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 70.9% in 2000
31.9% rent
Vacancy rate
15.8%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 42.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+32%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
44
RELATED:See current rent listings in Meridian on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic60.5%(58,105)
Black37.4%(35,926)
Hispanic / Latino1%(1,008)
Asian0.4%(404)
Other0%
Diversity Score60.9%(58,577)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic52.5%(45,605)
Black39.1%(33,935)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(1,989)
Asian0.6%(547)
Other5.5%(4,742)
Diversity Score71%(61,612)
Segregation Score39.9%(34,600)
Diversity Score
71
+16%since 2000
from 61 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
40
−13%since 2020
from 46 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.5%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.0%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.5%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.8 min
+75%since 2000
from 14.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.0%
−5.3 ptssince 2011
from 11.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 59.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.2%
−25.8 ptssince 2009
from 61.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
51.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.6%
−37.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2012
from 19.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.3%
−74.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.5%
+25.7 ptssince 2017
from 58.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 97.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

MeridianCENTRAL33,370
What's inside

2 component counties

Lauderdale CountyCENTRAL70,317Clarke County15,102
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Meridian

Laurel
Pop 82,281
Huntsville
Pop 83,842
Bluefield
Pop 96,138
Danville
Pop 101,137
Places similar to Meridian
Head to head

Compare Meridian side by side

MERIDIAN VS
Laurel
Income$51,524+3%
Home value$136,095+4%
Population82,281−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERIDIAN VS
Huntsville
Income$52,324+5%
Home value$226,900+74%
Population83,842−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERIDIAN VS
Bluefield
Income$50,830+2%
Home value$120,328−8%
Population96,138+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MERIDIAN VS
Danville
Income$50,089same
Home value$143,906+10%
Population101,137+18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Meridian, MS?

Meridian, MS has about 86,818 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Meridian, MS?

The typical household in Meridian, MS earns about $49,986 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Meridian, MS expensive?

In Meridian, MS, the median home is worth about $130,619, and the typical rent is about $926 a month.

How educated are people in Meridian, MS?

About 22.5% of adults age 25 and over in Meridian, MS hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Meridian, MS?

About 24.7% of people in Meridian, MS live below the federal poverty line.

Has Meridian, MS grown since 1990?

Yes, Meridian, MS has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,050 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →