You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Mississippi.
The median household income in Madison County, the richest county in Mississippi is $79,105, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 82 counties in the Magnolia State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In Mississippi For 2024
What is the richest county in Mississippi? The richest county in Mississippi is Madison County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Holmes County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Mississippi. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Mississippi and the cheapest places to live in Mississippi.
The Richest Counties In Mississippi For 2024
1. Madison County
Biggest Place: Jackson
Population: 109,257
Median Income: $79,105 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $320,951 (highest)
More on Madison County: Data
2. Desoto County
Biggest Place: Southaven
Population: 186,214
Median Income: $79,666 (highest)
Median Home Price: $285,309 (3rd highest)
More on Desoto County: Data
3. Rankin County
Biggest Place: Jackson
Population: 157,185
Median Income: $76,460 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $252,134 (4th highest)
More on Rankin County: Data
4. Lamar County
Biggest Place: Hattiesburg
Population: 64,425
Median Income: $67,972 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $248,011 (5th highest)
More on Lamar County: Data
5. Lafayette County
Biggest Place: Oxford
Population: 56,172
Median Income: $59,748 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $313,253 (2nd highest)
More on Lafayette County: Data
6. Hancock County
Biggest Place: Bay St. Louis
Population: 46,010
Median Income: $63,623 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $230,238 (7th highest)
More on Hancock County: Data
7. Tate County
Biggest Place: Senatobia
Population: 28,094
Median Income: $61,286 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $213,368 (8th highest)
More on Tate County: Data
8. Lee County
Biggest Place: Tupelo
Population: 83,343
Median Income: $64,479 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $187,233 (12th highest)
More on Lee County: Data
9. Jackson County
Biggest Place: Pascagoula
Population: 143,721
Median Income: $60,045 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $192,772 (11th highest)
More on Jackson County: Data
10. Harrison County
Biggest Place: Gulfport
Population: 208,748
Median Income: $55,211 (14th highest)
Median Home Price: $212,293 (9th highest)
More on Harrison County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Mississippi county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in Mississippi, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in Mississippi for each of the criteria from one to 82, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In Mississippi.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Magnolia State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in Mississippi. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In Mississippi For 2024
Living in Mississippi can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in Mississippi are Madison County, DeSoto County, Rankin County, Lamar County, Lafayette County, Hancock County, Tate County, Lee County, Jackson County, and Harrison County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in Mississippi according to the data:
- Holmes County
- Quitman County
- Leflore County
For more Mississippi reading, check out:
- Richest Cities In Mississippi
- Best Places To Live In Mississippi
- Best Counties To Live In Mississippi
- Safest Places In Mississippi
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Mississippi
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison County | 109,257 | $79,105 | $320,951 |
| 2 | Desoto County | 186,214 | $79,666 | $285,309 |
| 3 | Rankin County | 157,185 | $76,460 | $252,134 |
| 4 | Lamar County | 64,425 | $67,972 | $248,011 |
| 5 | Lafayette County | 56,172 | $59,748 | $313,253 |
| 6 | Hancock County | 46,010 | $63,623 | $230,238 |
| 7 | Tate County | 28,094 | $61,286 | $213,368 |
| 8 | Lee County | 83,343 | $64,479 | $187,233 |
| 9 | Jackson County | 143,721 | $60,045 | $192,772 |
| 10 | Harrison County | 208,748 | $55,211 | $212,293 |
| 11 | Pearl River County | 56,351 | $54,220 | $207,854 |
| 12 | Stone County | 18,360 | $55,894 | $175,079 |
| 13 | Union County | 27,880 | $55,970 | $171,014 |
| 14 | Pontotoc County | 31,202 | $54,414 | $178,037 |
| 15 | George County | 24,547 | $51,349 | $185,504 |
| 16 | Marshall County | 33,980 | $51,431 | $180,413 |
| 17 | Webster County | 9,942 | $55,657 | $151,932 |
| 18 | Warren County | 44,341 | $54,117 | $162,802 |
| 19 | Lowndes County | 58,547 | $53,687 | $161,932 |
| 20 | Itawamba County | 23,888 | $57,252 | $144,494 |
| 21 | Smith County | 14,310 | $51,983 | $150,705 |
| 22 | Forrest County | 77,917 | $49,340 | $167,997 |
| 23 | Lincoln County | 34,855 | $47,069 | $171,828 |
| 24 | Oktibbeha County | 51,388 | $42,953 | $244,233 |
| 25 | Panola County | 33,157 | $47,894 | $155,307 |
| 26 | Jones County | 67,152 | $49,451 | $144,576 |
| 27 | Greene County | 13,672 | $50,000 | $142,384 |
| 28 | Monroe County | 34,168 | $51,190 | $139,969 |
| 29 | Alcorn County | 34,717 | $47,716 | $144,804 |
| 30 | Newton County | 21,275 | $49,160 | $138,223 |
| 31 | Prentiss County | 24,945 | $51,578 | $129,580 |
| 32 | Simpson County | 25,889 | $50,867 | $134,469 |
| 33 | Tishomingo County | 18,837 | $45,545 | $158,260 |
| 34 | Perry County | 11,511 | $48,333 | $130,671 |
| 35 | Tippah County | 21,769 | $47,968 | $130,986 |
| 36 | Carroll County | 9,930 | $42,285 | $164,261 |
| 37 | Neshoba County | 28,970 | $47,400 | $135,496 |
| 38 | Leake County | 21,335 | $46,669 | $137,209 |
| 39 | Franklin County | 7,690 | $43,942 | $139,667 |
| 40 | Yalobusha County | 12,499 | $47,006 | $124,510 |
| 41 | Covington County | 18,323 | $40,164 | $146,317 |
| 42 | Winston County | 17,741 | $45,516 | $129,532 |
| 43 | Grenada County | 21,474 | $45,745 | $119,981 |
| 44 | Hinds County | 226,541 | $48,596 | $108,634 |
| 45 | Lauderdale County | 72,741 | $45,649 | $119,150 |
| 46 | Jasper County | 16,320 | $43,914 | $125,018 |
| 47 | Copiah County | 28,210 | $46,889 | $113,006 |
| 48 | Kemper County | 8,980 | $42,947 | $123,374 |
| 49 | Clarke County | 15,553 | $46,329 | $112,217 |
| 50 | Walthall County | 13,888 | $37,145 | $141,148 |
| 51 | Amite County | 12,683 | $34,866 | $149,455 |
| 52 | Choctaw County | 8,208 | $41,887 | $119,903 |
| 53 | Attala County | 17,842 | $42,680 | $115,912 |
| 54 | Clay County | 18,598 | $37,412 | $129,681 |
| 55 | Marion County | 24,362 | $38,399 | $125,790 |
| 56 | Scott County | 27,943 | $44,968 | $103,888 |
| 57 | Bolivar County | 30,688 | $37,845 | $128,378 |
| 58 | Lawrence County | 11,933 | $41,096 | $118,070 |
| 59 | Calhoun County | 13,193 | $44,505 | $103,363 |
| 60 | Wayne County | 19,760 | $34,875 | $135,700 |
| 61 | Benton County | 7,637 | $38,750 | $121,601 |
| 62 | Chickasaw County | 17,024 | $40,224 | $116,032 |
| 63 | Tunica County | 9,787 | $41,676 | $108,830 |
| 64 | Noxubee County | 10,261 | $42,298 | $93,664 |
| 65 | Adams County | 29,425 | $37,271 | $117,979 |
| 66 | Yazoo County | 27,467 | $41,867 | $94,700 |
| 67 | Pike County | 40,098 | $40,131 | $100,926 |
| 68 | Sharkey County | 3,910 | $41,000 | $89,344 |
| 69 | Sunflower County | 25,867 | $37,403 | $98,983 |
| 70 | Montgomery County | 9,803 | $36,845 | $99,995 |
| 71 | Wilkinson County | 8,531 | $34,928 | $106,251 |
| 72 | Washington County | 44,604 | $38,394 | $70,423 |
| 73 | Issaquena County | 1,206 | $17,900 | $111,562 |
| 74 | Jefferson County | 7,207 | $31,544 | $107,868 |
| 75 | Jefferson Davis County | 11,291 | $36,473 | $91,069 |
| 76 | Tallahatchie County | 12,621 | $35,428 | $93,174 |
| 77 | Claiborne County | 9,044 | $34,282 | $90,328 |
| 78 | Coahoma County | 21,264 | $36,075 | $50,013 |
| 79 | Humphreys County | 7,744 | $31,907 | $81,969 |
| 80 | Leflore County | 27,920 | $33,115 | $78,155 |
| 81 | Quitman County | 6,113 | $31,192 | $75,880 |
| 82 | Holmes County | 16,848 | $28,818 | $63,005 |