1st Advantage MortgageCalhoun County households have a median income of $43,125 and median rent of $662 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Mississippi license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Calhoun County
- How much Calhoun County households make
- Renting and owning in Calhoun County
- How Calhoun County residents earn a living
- Places inside Calhoun County
- How Calhoun County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Calhoun County budget can carry
- Calhoun County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Calhoun County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
- More guides for Calhoun County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Calhoun County
Calhoun County is home to about 12,922 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 60th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. It covers 587 square miles of land, or about 22 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (7 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Calhoun City, with about 1,745 residents, or 14% of the county.
How much Calhoun County households make
At $43,125, the typical Calhoun County household income is 34% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Calhoun County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 41.5% | +9.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | +2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.1% | -7.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.2% | -3.6 pts |
Some 42% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 15% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 20.4% of Calhoun County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. None of these numbers decides a Calhoun County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Calhoun County
A typical Calhoun County rental runs $662 a month including utilities, which is 31% below Mississippi. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $90,300, about 2.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 72%. The median year built is 1980.
| Housing | Calhoun County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $662/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $90,300 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.6% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 15% | n/a |
How Calhoun County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Calhoun County residents work in manufacturing and 21% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 28% locally and 13% for Mississippi. The survey's unemployment rate for Calhoun County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). About 87% drive to work alone and 28% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Calhoun County share | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 28.2% | +15.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.3% | +6.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.0% | -1.4 pts |
| Other services | 5.2% | +0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Calhoun County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Calhoun County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Calhoun County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 5,777 people, so roughly 55% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $41,071 at the median in Derma, $26,923 in Bruce. No Calhoun County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun City | town | 1,745 | $40,078 | $537 | 5 mi |
| Bruce | town | 1,483 | $26,923 | $643 | 4 mi |
| Vardaman | town | 1,100 | $38,456 | $465 | 10 mi |
| Derma | town | 963 | $41,071 | $752 | 6 mi |
| Pittsboro | village | 300 | $42,216 | n/a | 0 mi |
| Big Creek | village | 124 | $64,583 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Slate Springs | village | 62 | $65,000 | n/a | 14 mi |
How Calhoun County compares with nearby counties
Yalobusha County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Lafayette County, is 30 miles off. All of the six report a higher median household income than Calhoun County; Lafayette County is highest at $67,185 and Chickasaw County lowest at $43,586.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County | - | $43,125 | $662/mo | 72% |
| Yalobusha County, MS | 22 mi | $49,151 | $667/mo | 69% |
| Chickasaw County, MS | 22 mi | $43,586 | $670/mo | 70% |
| Webster County, MS | 23 mi | $58,789 | $632/mo | 76% |
| Pontotoc County, MS | 26 mi | $51,484 | $864/mo | 70% |
| Grenada County, MS | 29 mi | $48,804 | $807/mo | 67% |
| Lafayette County, MS | 30 mi | $67,185 | $1,085/mo | 64% |
What a median Calhoun County budget can carry
Here is the Calhoun County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,594 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $662, takes 18% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $776 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Calhoun County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Calhoun County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 12% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 12.0%, against 11.0% for Mississippi.
| Measure | Calhoun County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.1% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 22.0% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.0% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.4% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.3% |
| 60+ min | 16.9% |
Before borrowing in Calhoun County
Where the Calhoun County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 12% of Calhoun County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Vehicle repairs. 28% of Calhoun County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Calhoun County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Assistance before credit. With a 20% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Calhoun County loan.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Calhoun County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Mississippi license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance is the place to verify any lender's Mississippi license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Mississippi state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Calhoun County
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Calhoun County household make?
About $43,125 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 24% below the Mississippi median.
How does Calhoun County rent compare with Mississippi?
$662 locally versus $954 for the state, 31% below.
What are the biggest places in Calhoun County?
By population: Calhoun City, Bruce, Vardaman, Derma, Pittsboro. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Calhoun County or elsewhere in Mississippi, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Calhoun 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.