1st Advantage MortgageThe median Attala County household earns $51,639, and 18% 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
- Attala County by the numbers
- Work, industries and travel time in Attala County
- Income in Attala County compared with Mississippi
- What it costs to live in Attala County
- The communities that make up Attala County
- Counties near Attala County
- Budget math at the Attala County median
- What the numbers mean for Attala County borrowers
- Attala County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Who licenses lenders for Attala County residents
- A Attala County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Attala County by the numbers
Roughly 17,526 residents live in Attala County, Mississippi, 52nd by population among the state's 82 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 735 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 24 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Attala County is not part of any metropolitan area. Kosciusko is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 6,933 people (40% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Attala County
The biggest employer of Attala County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (20%). Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Attala County. About 80% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 8.1% of the total (6.3% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Attala County workers | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.1% | +7.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -2.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.2% | -2.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Attala County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Attala County compared with Mississippi
Attala County households have a median income of $51,639 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 32nd of 82 in Mississippi.
| Income band | Share in Attala County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.4% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.8% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.0% | -1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -1.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Attala County households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 18.0%, 1 point lower than the state's 18.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.513 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Attala County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Attala County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $825 in Attala County versus $954 statewide. By the Census definition, 56% of Attala County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $104,600, or 2.0 years of median income. 75% of Attala County households own their home and 25% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1981.
| Measure | Attala County | Mississippi | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $825/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $104,600 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.4% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 15% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The communities that make up Attala County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Attala County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 7,444 residents, leaving about 58% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Attala County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kosciusko | city | 6,933 | $40,085 | $814 | 2 mi |
| Sallis | town | 212 | $52,991 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Ethel | town | 206 | $48,906 | n/a | 7 mi |
| McCool | town | 93 | $53,750 | n/a | 16 mi |
Counties near Attala County
Leake County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Winston County, is 32 miles off. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Attala County; Carroll County is highest at $59,327 and Holmes County lowest at $32,538.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attala County | - | $51,639 | $825/mo | 75% |
| Leake County, MS | 23 mi | $50,728 | $765/mo | 77% |
| Choctaw County, MS | 26 mi | $50,919 | $638/mo | 79% |
| Montgomery County, MS | 28 mi | $41,748 | $734/mo | 76% |
| Holmes County, MS | 29 mi | $32,538 | $590/mo | 61% |
| Carroll County, MS | 31 mi | $59,327 | $662/mo | 84% |
| Winston County, MS | 32 mi | $53,031 | $721/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Attala County median
How much room does a median Attala County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $51,639 a year is $4,303 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $825 uses 19%
- Under a 36% cap, $1,549 total minus rent leaves $724
- Under a 43% cap, $1,850 total minus rent leaves $1,025
Two-income households and single earners in Attala County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Attala County borrowers
A few patterns in the Attala County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 23% of Attala County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 19% of Attala County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 18% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Rent squeeze. 56% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Attala County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 8.5%, against 11.0% for Mississippi.
| Residents | Attala County | Mississippi | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.8% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.8% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Attala County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 18.5% |
Who licenses lenders for Attala County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Attala 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. See the Mississippi state guide for the statewide picture.
A Attala County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Attala County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Mississippi borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Attala County a high-income county?
Its $51,639 median ranks 32nd of 82 Mississippi counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Attala County?
$825 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Should Attala County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Attala 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 Attala County?
By population: Kosciusko, Sallis, Ethel, McCool. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Attala County or elsewhere in Mississippi, the same rules apply.