1st Advantage MortgageAbout 79% of Choctaw County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $50,919. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Choctaw County
- Income in Choctaw County compared with Mississippi
- The Choctaw County job picture
- What it costs to live in Choctaw County
- Choctaw County towns compared
- How Choctaw County compares with nearby counties
- Room for a loan payment in Choctaw County
- Choctaw County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Choctaw County
- Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Choctaw County
With an estimated 8,118 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Choctaw County ranks 75th of 82 in Mississippi for population. Spread over 418 square miles, that works out to roughly 19.4 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Choctaw County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (3 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Ackerman, with about 1,792 residents, or 22% of the county. With so few households sampled, Choctaw County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Choctaw County compared with Mississippi
The median household income in Choctaw County is $50,919; statewide it is $56,447, so Choctaw County runs 10% below Mississippi as a whole. Only 35 Mississippi counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Choctaw County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.2% | +3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.2% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.5% | -4.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Choctaw County households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. Census counts 18.4% of Choctaw County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.416 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Choctaw County job picture
Education and health care employs 35% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 35% locally and 25% for Mississippi. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 9.8% in Choctaw County. Long commutes are common here: 20% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Choctaw County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.9% | +9.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.5% | -4.4 pts |
| Other services | 7.4% | +2.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | -0.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Choctaw County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Choctaw County
A typical Choctaw County rental runs $638 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Mississippi. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 36% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $117,200, about 2.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 79% of homes.
| Home costs | Choctaw County | Mississippi | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $638/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $117,200 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | 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).
Choctaw County towns compared
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Choctaw County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 2,768 people, so roughly 66% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Choctaw County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ackerman | town | 1,792 | $48,083 | $555 | 5 mi |
| Weir | town | 704 | $35,938 | $594 | 6 mi |
| French Camp | town | 272 | $97,679 | $867 | 9 mi |
How Choctaw County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (18 to 35 miles). Income ranges from $41,748 in Montgomery County to $58,789 in Webster County; 3 of these neighbors top Choctaw County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choctaw County | - | $50,919 | $638/mo | 79% |
| Webster County, MS | 18 mi | $58,789 | $632/mo | 76% |
| Winston County, MS | 22 mi | $53,031 | $721/mo | 73% |
| Oktibbeha County, MS | 22 mi | $46,695 | $915/mo | 48% |
| Montgomery County, MS | 25 mi | $41,748 | $734/mo | 76% |
| Attala County, MS | 26 mi | $51,639 | $825/mo | 75% |
| Clay County, MS | 35 mi | $43,125 | $817/mo | 71% |
Room for a loan payment in Choctaw County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Choctaw County's medians:
- $50,919 a year is $4,243 of gross monthly income
- 15% goes to median rent ($638)
- $847: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,271 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Choctaw County households compared
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.6%, against 11.0% for Mississippi.
| Indicator | Choctaw County | All of Mississippi | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.1% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.2% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.5% |
Local borrowing considerations for Choctaw County
Based on the Choctaw County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Choctaw County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 20% of Choctaw County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 18% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
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. Statewide data and rules: Mississippi guide.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Choctaw County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Choctaw County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Mississippi borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Choctaw County earn?
The median is $50,919; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 36% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Choctaw County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $638 against $954 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Choctaw County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Ackerman, Weir, French Camp.
Does living in Choctaw County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Choctaw County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Choctaw County?
Start with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.