Greene County, MS: personal loan guide and local data

Getting oriented in Greene County

With an estimated 13,615 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Greene County ranks 59th of 82 in Mississippi for population. Land area is 713 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 19 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Greene County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 4 Census places inside Greene County, Leakesville leads by population with about 4,959; 3 of the 4 are incorporated.

Renting and owning in Greene County

Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $802 in Greene County versus $954 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 66% of renter households here. With a median value of $92,700, a typical Greene County house costs 1.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 82% of Greene County households own their home and 18% rent. The median year built is 1987.

In an owner-heavy county like Greene County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?

What Greene County households earn

The median household income in Greene County is $54,276; statewide it is $56,447, so Greene County runs 4% below Mississippi as a whole. Only 21 Mississippi counties post a higher median.

Some 36% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 18.3%, 1 point lower than the state's 18.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.446 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $54,276 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.

How Greene County residents earn a living

Construction employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 22%. Construction stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Greene County averages 11.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). Long commutes are common here: 41% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.7% of households have no vehicle.

A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.

Greene County next to its neighbors

The six counties whose centers lie closest to Greene County's, from 21 to 41 miles away. Income ranges from $37,619 in Wayne County to $61,413 in Stone County; 3 of these neighbors top Greene County's median. Some neighbors are in Alabama. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Greene County resident follows Mississippi rules.

Towns and communities in Greene County

The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Greene County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 6,452 people, so roughly 53% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Greene County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.

Greene County residents: age, schooling, coverage

11% of Greene County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 16% go without health insurance.

Borrowing situations common in Greene County

Based on the Greene County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.

• Uninsured care. 16% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
• Keeping the car running. At 41% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Greene County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
• Repairs on manufactured housing. With 35% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
• 18% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.

Budget math at the Greene County median

Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Greene County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.

• Median income divided by twelve: $4,523 before taxes
• 18% goes to median rent ($802)
• With a 40% ceiling, about $1,007 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments

Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.

A Greene County borrower's checklist

Steps that save money for Greene County residents:

• Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Greene County.
• Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
• Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
• Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.

Mississippi rules that apply in Greene County

Before sharing details with a lender, a Greene 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.

Nearby and statewide guides

For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.

• Mississippi state guide