1st Advantage MortgageIn Chickasaw County, Mississippi, the typical household earns $43,586 a year and the typical rent is $670. 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
- Who lives in Chickasaw County
- Paychecks and income spread in Chickasaw County
- Work, industries and travel time in Chickasaw County
- Chickasaw County housing compared with Mississippi
- Chickasaw County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Chickasaw County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Chickasaw County
- Chickasaw County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Four steps for Chickasaw County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Chickasaw County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Chickasaw County
Roughly 16,915 residents live in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, 53rd by population among the state's 82 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 502 square miles, that works out to roughly 33.7 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Chickasaw County is not part of any metropolitan area. Houston is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 3,741 people (22% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Chickasaw County
Half of Chickasaw County households take in less than $43,586 a year and half take in more, 23% below the Mississippi median of $56,447. That places it 58th among Mississippi's 82 county-level areas.
| Band | Chickasaw County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.6% | +10.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.6% | -6.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.6% | -4.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 15% of Chickasaw County households make $100,000 or more, and 43% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 23.5%, 5 points higher than the state's 18.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.472 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Chickasaw County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Chickasaw County residents work in manufacturing and 22% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 24% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 82% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Chickasaw County workers | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.0% | +11.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 22.2% | -3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.9% | +4.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -2.5 pts |
| Public administration | 5.1% | 0.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Chickasaw County housing compared with Mississippi
A typical Chickasaw County rental runs $670 a month including utilities, which is 30% below Mississippi. By the Census definition, 40% of Chickasaw County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $109,800, a typical Chickasaw County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 70%. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Chickasaw County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $670/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $109,800 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.6% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 15% | n/a |
Chickasaw County towns compared
5 Census places fall mainly inside Chickasaw County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 7,048 residents, leaving about 58% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $26,042 in Okolona to $46,705 in New Houlka. Median rent ranges from $582 in Okolona to $756 in New Houlka. No Chickasaw County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | city | 3,741 | $44,023 | $727 | 4 mi |
| Okolona | city | 2,430 | $26,042 | $582 | 12 mi |
| New Houlka | town | 702 | $46,705 | $756 | 8 mi |
| Woodland | village | 132 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Van Vleet | CDP | 43 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Pontotoc County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, Webster County, is 29 miles off. Income ranges from $43,125 in Clay County to $67,863 in Lee County; 4 of these neighbors top Chickasaw County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickasaw County | - | $43,586 | $670/mo | 70% |
| Pontotoc County, MS | 21 mi | $51,484 | $864/mo | 70% |
| Clay County, MS | 21 mi | $43,125 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Calhoun County, MS | 22 mi | $43,125 | $662/mo | 72% |
| Monroe County, MS | 27 mi | $51,866 | $768/mo | 76% |
| Lee County, MS | 29 mi | $67,863 | $957/mo | 71% |
| Webster County, MS | 29 mi | $58,789 | $632/mo | 76% |
Debt-to-income at Chickasaw County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Chickasaw County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Chickasaw County: $3,632
- Median rent: $670, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $1,308 total minus rent leaves $638
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Chickasaw County's.
Borrowing situations common in Chickasaw County
What the Chickasaw County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 11% of Chickasaw County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- 23% 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 24% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Chickasaw County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 12% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 11.0%, against 11.0% for Mississippi.
| Measure | Chickasaw County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.0% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.5% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.0% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.9% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.5% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.8% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
Four steps for Chickasaw County borrowers
A short checklist for Chickasaw County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Mississippi borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Chickasaw County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Chickasaw County borrowers answers to the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Mississippi: Mississippi personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Chickasaw County household make?
About $43,586 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 23% below the Mississippi median.
What do renters pay in Chickasaw County?
$670 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Should Chickasaw County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 70% of Chickasaw County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Chickasaw County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Houston, Okolona, New Houlka, Woodland, Van Vleet.
Can Chickasaw 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.