1st Advantage MortgageIn Covington County, Mississippi, the typical household earns $45,051 a year and the typical rent is $662. 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 Covington County
- Household income in Covington County
- Covington County housing compared with Mississippi
- The Covington County job picture
- Covington County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Covington County
- People and households in Covington County
- Borrowing situations common in Covington County
- Room for a loan payment in Covington County
- Four steps for Covington County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Covington County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Covington County
With an estimated 18,148 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Covington County ranks 50th of 82 in Mississippi for population. Land area is 414 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 44 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (3 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Collins, with about 2,455 residents, or 14% of the county.
Household income in Covington County
Half of Covington County households take in less than $45,051 a year and half take in more, 20% below the Mississippi median of $56,447.
| Household income | Covington County | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.9% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.5% | -1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -2.3 pts |
Some 37% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 19.8%, 1 point higher than the state's 18.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.488 here. None of these numbers decides a Covington County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Covington County housing compared with Mississippi
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $662 in Covington County versus $954 statewide. By the Census definition, 34% of Covington County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $105,100, a typical Covington County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. The median year built is 1989.
| Housing | Covington County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $662/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $105,100 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 32.0% | 14.4% | 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).
The Covington County job picture
The biggest employer of Covington County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Covington County averages 3.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 8.8% of the total (6.3% statewide).
| Sector | Covington County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.7% | +4.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.1% | +6.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.8% | -1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.0% | +2.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Covington County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 17 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Covington County; Lamar County is highest at $70,909 and Jefferson Davis County lowest at $38,548.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covington County | - | $45,051 | $662/mo | 78% |
| Jefferson Davis County, MS | 17 mi | $38,548 | $757/mo | 84% |
| Jones County, MS | 22 mi | $52,216 | $869/mo | 75% |
| Smith County, MS | 27 mi | $60,916 | $664/mo | 87% |
| Simpson County, MS | 29 mi | $56,381 | $852/mo | 81% |
| Lamar County, MS | 30 mi | $70,909 | $1,126/mo | 70% |
| Marion County, MS | 32 mi | $45,110 | $818/mo | 77% |
Places inside Covington County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 21% of Covington County residents live in one of the 3. No Covington County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collins | city | 2,455 | $37,944 | $751 | 2 mi |
| Mount Olive | town | 1,110 | n/a | $814 | 10 mi |
| Seminary | town | 229 | $58,056 | n/a | 6 mi |
People and households in Covington County
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Covington County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.4% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.0% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.8% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.8% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Covington County
What the Covington County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Mobile home upkeep. 32% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Room for a loan payment in Covington County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Covington County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Covington County: $3,754
- 18% goes to median rent ($662)
- $690: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Covington County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Four steps for Covington County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Covington County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Mississippi license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Covington County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Covington County, check the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Mississippi guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Covington County?
$45,051 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $56,447 for Mississippi. It ranks 55th of 82 in the state.
Is Covington County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $662 against $954 statewide, and 34% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Collins?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Covington County, such as Mount Olive, Seminary.
Does living in Covington 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 Covington County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Covington County?
Start with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.