1st Advantage MortgageThe median DeSoto County household earns $85,297, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of DeSoto County
- Work, industries and travel time in DeSoto County
- Household income in DeSoto County
- DeSoto County housing compared with Mississippi
- DeSoto County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- A DeSoto County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in DeSoto County, in numbers
- Reading the DeSoto County data as a borrower
- Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
- A DeSoto County borrower's checklist
- More guides for DeSoto County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of DeSoto County
With an estimated 191,301 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), DeSoto County ranks 3rd of 82 in Mississippi for population. Land area is 476 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 402 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (5 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Southaven, with about 56,226 residents, or 29% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in DeSoto County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; transportation, warehousing and utilities is next with 15%. The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 15% locally and 7% for Mississippi. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in DeSoto County. About 81% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | DeSoto County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.1% | -4.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 14.6% | +7.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.5% | +1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in DeSoto County
Half of DeSoto County households take in less than $85,297 a year and half take in more, 51% above the Mississippi median of $56,447. That places it 1st among Mississippi's 82 county-level areas.
| Households earning | DeSoto County | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.9% | -13.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.6% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.1% | +11.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.4% | +3.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 41% of DeSoto County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.7%, 9 points lower than the state's 18.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.410 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the DeSoto County median.
DeSoto County housing compared with Mississippi
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,451 in DeSoto County versus $954 statewide. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $269,600, a typical DeSoto County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. Median construction year: 1999.
| Housing | DeSoto County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,451/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $269,600 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 15% | n/a |
Because most DeSoto County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
DeSoto County towns compared
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in DeSoto County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 155,839 people, so roughly 19% of residents live outside any named place. Bridgetown has the highest median household income on the list ($139,224) and Horn Lake the lowest ($53,311), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $835 in Lakeview to $1,915 in Lynchburg. No DeSoto County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southaven | city | 56,226 | $78,483 | $1,445 | 5 mi |
| Olive Branch | city | 47,019 | $100,606 | $1,829 | 10 mi |
| Horn Lake | city | 26,647 | $53,311 | $1,435 | 6 mi |
| Hernando | city | 17,949 | $76,950 | $1,302 | 2 mi |
| Bridgetown | CDP | 3,195 | $139,224 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Lynchburg | CDP | 2,161 | $88,750 | $1,915 | 9 mi |
| Walls | town | 1,426 | $58,920 | $1,200 | 11 mi |
| Eudora | CDP | 620 | $89,391 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Lakeview | CDP | 596 | n/a | $835 | 11 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to DeSoto County's, from 16 to 35 miles away. Income ranges from $39,364 in Tunica County to $69,704 in Tate County; none of these neighbors top DeSoto County's median. The list crosses into Arkansas, Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto County | - | $85,297 | $1,451/mo | 78% |
| Tate County, MS | 16 mi | $69,704 | $963/mo | 76% |
| Shelby County, TN | 22 mi | $63,767 | $1,232/mo | 54% |
| Tunica County, MS | 27 mi | $39,364 | $977/mo | 40% |
| Crittenden County, AR | 29 mi | $55,358 | $911/mo | 57% |
| Marshall County, MS | 29 mi | $53,458 | $868/mo | 79% |
| Panola County, MS | 35 mi | $45,945 | $874/mo | 71% |
A DeSoto County household budget, worked through
Here is the DeSoto County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, DeSoto County: $7,108
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,451)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,108 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,451, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in DeSoto County, in numbers
29% of DeSoto County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| DeSoto County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.0% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
Reading the DeSoto County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the DeSoto County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 41% of DeSoto County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Renters under pressure. When 52% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
Before sharing details with a lender, a DeSoto County resident can confirm its license with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Mississippi guide.
A DeSoto County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in DeSoto County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one DeSoto County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Mississippi.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for DeSoto County
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in DeSoto County?
$85,297 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $56,447 for Mississippi. It ranks 1st of 82 in the state.
What do renters pay in DeSoto County?
$1,451 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Should DeSoto County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of DeSoto 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 DeSoto County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, Hernando, Bridgetown and 4 more.
Does living in DeSoto 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 DeSoto County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.