1st Advantage MortgageAbout 86% of Benton County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $46,016. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Benton County at a glance
- Benton County housing compared with Mississippi
- What Benton County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Benton County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Benton County
- What a median Benton County budget can carry
- Reading the Benton County data as a borrower
- Benton County households compared
- Who licenses lenders for Benton County residents
- Four steps for Benton County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Benton County at a glance
Roughly 7,589 residents live in Benton County, Mississippi, 77th by population among the state's 82 counties and county equivalents. It covers 407 square miles of land, or about 19 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (3 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Ashland, with about 657 residents, or 9% of the county. Because Benton County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Benton County housing compared with Mississippi
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $731 in Benton County versus $954 statewide. By the Census definition, 43% of Benton County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $105,100, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 86%.
| Cost | Benton County | Mississippi figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $731/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $105,100 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 30.2% | 14.4% | 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).
What Benton County households earn
At $46,016, the typical Benton County household income is 30% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 51 Mississippi counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Benton County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.9% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.2% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.0% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.0% | -3.7 pts |
About 37% of households earn under $35,000, while 17% clear $100,000. Census counts 21.5% of Benton County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.444 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Benton County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Benton County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Benton County residents work in education and health care and 23% in manufacturing. Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward manufacturing (23% against 13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.1% in Benton County. 35% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 2% work from home. Only 6.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Benton County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | -2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 22.5% | +9.6 pts |
| Construction | 13.3% | +6.5 pts |
| Other services | 10.4% | +5.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.5% | +1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.6% | -3.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (16 to 35 miles). Fayette County leads the group on income ($88,456), Hardeman County trails ($46,069), and Benton County out-earns 0 of the six. Some neighbors are in Tennessee. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Benton County resident follows Mississippi rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | - | $46,016 | $731/mo | 86% |
| Tippah County, MS | 16 mi | $52,542 | $790/mo | 75% |
| Marshall County, MS | 18 mi | $53,458 | $868/mo | 79% |
| Union County, MS | 25 mi | $55,505 | $865/mo | 75% |
| Fayette County, TN | 29 mi | $88,456 | $902/mo | 81% |
| Hardeman County, TN | 31 mi | $46,069 | $812/mo | 72% |
| Lafayette County, MS | 35 mi | $67,185 | $1,085/mo | 64% |
The communities that make up Benton County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Benton County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 1,585 residents, leaving about 79% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | town | 657 | $38,482 | $713 | 2 mi |
| Hickory Flat | town | 544 | $34,722 | $733 | 13 mi |
| Snow Lake Shores | town | 384 | $48,000 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Lamar | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
What a median Benton County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Benton County's medians:
- $3,835 a month: gross income for a household at the Benton County median
- Less median rent of $731, which is 19% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $649 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Benton County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Benton County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Benton County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 35% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 30% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 22% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Benton County households compared
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. 9.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Benton County | Mississippi | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.8% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.4% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 1.9% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.5% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Benton County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 13.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.1% |
| 60+ min | 19.6% |
Who licenses lenders for Benton County residents
Benton County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Mississippi state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Benton County borrowers
Quick steps for Benton County:
- Price the Benton County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Mississippi.
- Ask a Benton County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Benton County?
$46,016 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $56,447 for Mississippi. It ranks 52nd of 82 in the state.
Is Benton County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $731 against $954 statewide, and 43% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Benton County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 86% of Benton County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Ashland?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Benton County, such as Hickory Flat, Snow Lake Shores, Lamar.
Is the fit check different in Benton County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.