1st Advantage MortgageThe median Bolivar County household earns $39,585, and 33% 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
- Bolivar County at a glance
- How Bolivar County residents earn a living
- Household income in Bolivar County
- Bolivar County housing compared with Mississippi
- Regional comparison for Bolivar County
- The communities that make up Bolivar County
- People and households in Bolivar County
- What the numbers mean for Bolivar County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Bolivar County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
- Four steps for Bolivar County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bolivar County at a glance
Bolivar County is home to about 29,534 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 26th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Spread over 877 square miles, that works out to roughly 33.7 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Bolivar County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 18 places in the county (14 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Cleveland, with about 10,623 residents, or 36% of the county.
How Bolivar County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 6% locally and 2% for Mississippi. Averaged over the five survey years, 7.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 10.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Bolivar County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.5% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | -2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -0.9 pts |
| Public administration | 6.4% | +1.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Bolivar County
At $39,585, the typical Bolivar County household income is 40% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 66th of 82.
| Yearly household income | Bolivar County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 46.1% | +13.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.2% | -9.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -2.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 15% of Bolivar County households make $100,000 or more, and 46% make less than $35,000. Census counts 32.6% of Bolivar County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.540 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Bolivar County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Bolivar County housing compared with Mississippi
A typical Bolivar County rental runs $685 a month including utilities, which is 28% below Mississippi. 58% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. Home values center on $130,000, or 3.3 years of median income. Owners occupy 63% of homes.
| Cost | Bolivar County | Mississippi figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $685/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $130,000 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.0% | 14.4% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Regional comparison for Bolivar County
Distances run center to center, from Desha County at 21 miles out to Tallahatchie County at 42. Income ranges from $35,277 in Leflore County to $42,165 in Washington County; 2 of these neighbors top Bolivar County's median. The list crosses into Arkansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar County | - | $39,585 | $685/mo | 63% |
| Desha County, AR | 21 mi | $37,662 | $718/mo | 57% |
| Sunflower County, MS | 21 mi | $39,956 | $694/mo | 55% |
| Coahoma County, MS | 34 mi | $37,461 | $749/mo | 52% |
| Washington County, MS | 37 mi | $42,165 | $833/mo | 60% |
| Leflore County, MS | 38 mi | $35,277 | $689/mo | 52% |
| Tallahatchie County, MS | 42 mi | $37,466 | $732/mo | 65% |
The communities that make up Bolivar County
18 Census places fall mainly inside Bolivar County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 19,647 residents, leaving about 33% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $44,074 at the median in Cleveland, $18,696 in Rosedale. Rent is cheapest in Rosedale ($358) and steepest in Cleveland ($943). This guide covers each of the 18 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | city | 10,623 | $44,074 | $943 | 10 mi |
| Rosedale | city | 1,703 | $18,696 | $358 | 10 mi |
| Shelby | city | 1,700 | $25,948 | $666 | 12 mi |
| Mound Bayou | city | 1,449 | $23,732 | $565 | 11 mi |
| Renova | town | 978 | $25,625 | $735 | 9 mi |
| Benoit | town | 509 | n/a | $455 | 12 mi |
| Merigold | town | 484 | $51,250 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Duncan | town | 477 | $49,041 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Boyle | town | 414 | $42,143 | $1,036 | 11 mi |
| Gunnison | town | 392 | n/a | $362 | 11 mi |
| Beulah | town | 327 | $31,607 | $443 | 6 mi |
| Winstonville | town | 132 | n/a | $814 | 11 mi |
| Skene | CDP | 129 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Alligator | town | 116 | n/a | $655 | 22 mi |
People and households in Bolivar County
Degree holders: 28% of adults over 25. 11.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Bolivar County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.0% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.1% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.2% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.1% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 32.6% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.1% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Bolivar County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
What the numbers mean for Bolivar County borrowers
A few patterns in the Bolivar County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 11% of Bolivar County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Free help first. 33% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Rent squeeze. 58% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Debt-to-income at Bolivar County's medians
Here is the Bolivar County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Bolivar County: $3,299
- Housing at the median rent of $685 uses 21%
- At 35%, room after rent is $470 a month
- With a 45% ceiling, about $799 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Bolivar County, check the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Mississippi guide.
Four steps for Bolivar County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Bolivar County:
- 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.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Bolivar County?
$39,585 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $56,447 for Mississippi. It ranks 66th of 82 in the state.
Is Bolivar County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $685 against $954 statewide, and 58% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Cleveland?
Yes, along with the other 17 Census places in Bolivar County, such as Rosedale, Shelby, Mound Bayou.
Can Bolivar County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Mississippi county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Bolivar County residents?
The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance licenses consumer lenders in Mississippi; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.