1st Advantage MortgageThe median Copiah County household earns $49,089, and 23% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Copiah County
- What Copiah County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Copiah County
- Copiah County housing compared with Mississippi
- Towns and communities in Copiah County
- Copiah County next to its neighbors
- People and households in Copiah County
- Before borrowing in Copiah County
- Debt-to-income at Copiah County's medians
- Lender oversight for Copiah County
- Four steps for Copiah County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Copiah County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Copiah County's population at 27,855; only 30 of Mississippi's 82 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 777 square miles, that works out to roughly 35.8 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Jackson, MS metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Crystal Springs, with about 4,752 residents, or 17% of the county.
What Copiah County households earn
At $49,089, the typical Copiah County household income is 25% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Copiah County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.3% | +2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.5% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.0% | -1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -1.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Copiah County households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. 23.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.542 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $49,089 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Copiah County
The biggest employer of Copiah County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 17% locally and 13% for Mississippi. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Copiah County workers | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.0% | +2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.0% | +4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -1.0 pts |
| Construction | 5.7% | -1.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Copiah County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Copiah County housing compared with Mississippi
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $766 in Copiah County versus $954 statewide. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. Home values center on $114,100, or 2.3 years of median income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Median construction year: 1985.
| Copiah County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $766/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $114,100 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 27.0% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 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).
Towns and communities in Copiah County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 32% of Copiah County residents live in one of the 4. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Springs | city | 4,752 | $49,291 | $782 | 10 mi |
| Hazlehurst | city | 3,520 | $43,552 | $676 | 3 mi |
| Beauregard | village | 419 | $53,333 | $1,121 | 11 mi |
| Georgetown | town | 220 | $20,625 | $383 | 17 mi |
Copiah County next to its neighbors
Lincoln County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Jefferson County, is 36 miles off. Income ranges from $31,897 in Claiborne County to $56,381 in Simpson County; 3 of these neighbors top Copiah County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copiah County | - | $49,089 | $766/mo | 74% |
| Lincoln County, MS | 23 mi | $51,119 | $760/mo | 75% |
| Hinds County, MS | 28 mi | $49,402 | $1,061/mo | 58% |
| Claiborne County, MS | 28 mi | $31,897 | $660/mo | 77% |
| Lawrence County, MS | 30 mi | $43,531 | $753/mo | 84% |
| Simpson County, MS | 31 mi | $56,381 | $852/mo | 81% |
| Jefferson County, MS | 36 mi | $38,305 | $448/mo | 83% |
People and households in Copiah County
20% of Copiah County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 12.9%, against 11.0% for Mississippi.
| Residents | Copiah County | Mississippi | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.7% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.9% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.9% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.0% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Copiah County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.2% |
| 60+ min | 9.3% |
Before borrowing in Copiah County
What the Copiah County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 13% of Copiah County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Keeping the car running. At 24% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Copiah County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 27% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Assistance before credit. With a 23% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Copiah County loan.
Debt-to-income at Copiah County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Copiah County's medians:
- $49,089 a year is $4,091 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $766, which is 19% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $707 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Copiah County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Lender oversight for Copiah County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Copiah County resident can confirm its license with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Mississippi guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Copiah County borrowers
A short checklist for Copiah County borrowers:
- Price the Copiah County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Copiah County a high-income county?
Its $49,089 median ranks 44th of 82 Mississippi counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Copiah County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $766 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Copiah County?
By population: Crystal Springs, Hazlehurst, Beauregard, Georgetown. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Are Copiah County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Copiah County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Mississippi it is the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance.