1st Advantage MortgageThe median Amite County household earns $37,222, and 28% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Mississippi before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Amite County
- What Amite County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Amite County
- Work, industries and travel time in Amite County
- Amite County towns compared
- How Amite County compares with nearby counties
- People and households in Amite County
- Local borrowing considerations for Amite County
- Room for a loan payment in Amite County
- Checklist for Amite County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Amite County
Amite County is home to about 12,565 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 61st most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Land area is 730 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 17 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Amite County is not part of any metropolitan area. Gloster is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 952 people (8% of the county total).
What Amite County households earn
Amite County households have a median income of $37,222 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 74th of 82 in Mississippi.
| Household income | Amite County | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 43.9% | +11.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 9.4% | -11.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.4% | -3.3 pts |
Some 44% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 12% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 27.6%, 9 points higher than the state's 18.9%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Amite County
A typical Amite County rental runs $670 a month including utilities, which is 30% below Mississippi. By the Census definition, 54% of Amite County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $100,800, a typical Amite County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 82% of Amite County households own their home and 18% rent. The median year built is 1985.
| Amite County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $670/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $100,800 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 38.8% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Amite County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Work, industries and travel time in Amite County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. Professional and administrative services stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Amite County averages 5.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 25% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.8% of the total (6.3% statewide).
| Sector | Amite County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -3.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.9% | +3.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.9% | +2.5 pts |
| Other services | 7.9% | +3.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +1.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Amite County towns compared
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 16% of Amite County residents live in one of the 3. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloster | town | 952 | $23,603 | $423 | 13 mi |
| Liberty | town | 864 | $43,529 | $479 | 3 mi |
| Crosby | town | 245 | n/a | $411 | 16 mi |
How Amite County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Franklin County at 20 miles out to Wilkinson County at 31. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Amite County; East Feliciana Parish is highest at $73,085 and Wilkinson County lowest at $35,311. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amite County | - | $37,222 | $670/mo | 82% |
| Franklin County, MS | 20 mi | $52,939 | $725/mo | 82% |
| Pike County, MS | 24 mi | $43,814 | $919/mo | 67% |
| St. Helena Parish, LA | 27 mi | $41,934 | $870/mo | 79% |
| East Feliciana Parish, LA | 29 mi | $73,085 | $911/mo | 86% |
| Lincoln County, MS | 31 mi | $51,119 | $760/mo | 75% |
| Wilkinson County, MS | 31 mi | $35,311 | $686/mo | 78% |
People and households in Amite County
College graduates make up 11% of the adult population. 11.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Amite County | All of Mississippi | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.2 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.2% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.2% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 27.6% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Amite County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.7% |
| 60+ min | 18.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Amite County
Where the Amite County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Amite County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 25% of Amite County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 39% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Amite County's median age is 49.2. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Room for a loan payment in Amite County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Amite County's medians:
- $3,102 a month: gross income for a household at the Amite County median
- Rent at the median, $670, takes 22% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $571 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $670, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checklist for Amite County applicants
A short checklist for Amite County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Mississippi borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Amite County borrowers answers to the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Mississippi guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Amite County household make?
About $37,222 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 34% below the Mississippi median.
Is Amite County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $670 against $954 statewide, and 54% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Amite County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Amite County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Amite County?
By population: Gloster, Liberty, Crosby. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Amite County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.