1st Advantage MortgageThe median Grenada County household earns $48,804, and 25% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Grenada County, MS: the basics
- Income in Grenada County compared with Mississippi
- Jobs and commutes in Grenada County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Grenada County
- Counties near Grenada County
- Grenada County towns compared
- Budget math at the Grenada County median
- Borrowing situations common in Grenada County
- People and households in Grenada County
- A Grenada County borrower's checklist
- Mississippi rules that apply in Grenada County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Grenada County, MS: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Grenada County's population at 21,217; only 42 of Mississippi's 82 county-level areas are larger. It covers 422 square miles of land, or about 50 people 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 (1 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Grenada, with about 12,375 residents, or 58% of the county.
Income in Grenada County compared with Mississippi
At $48,804, the typical Grenada County household income is 26% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 45 Mississippi counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Grenada County | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.2% | +6.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.2% | -1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.7% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | +0.2 pts |
Some 39% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 24.6% of Grenada County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.500 here. For a borrower in Grenada County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Grenada County
The biggest employer of Grenada County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (20%). Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 13%). The survey's unemployment rate for Grenada County averages 4.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). About 87% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 7.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Grenada County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.5% | +6.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Public administration | 9.9% | +4.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -2.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Rent, home values and ownership in Grenada County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $807 in Grenada County versus $954 statewide. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. Home values center on $132,200, or 2.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 67%. The median year built is 1983.
| Cost | Grenada County | Mississippi figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $807/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $132,200 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 13.7% | 14.4% | n/a |
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?
Counties near Grenada County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 32 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Carroll County leads the group on income ($59,327), Tallahatchie County trails ($37,466), and Grenada County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grenada County | - | $48,804 | $807/mo | 67% |
| Yalobusha County, MS | 19 mi | $49,151 | $667/mo | 69% |
| Montgomery County, MS | 21 mi | $41,748 | $734/mo | 76% |
| Carroll County, MS | 24 mi | $59,327 | $662/mo | 84% |
| Tallahatchie County, MS | 25 mi | $37,466 | $732/mo | 65% |
| Calhoun County, MS | 29 mi | $43,125 | $662/mo | 72% |
| Webster County, MS | 32 mi | $58,789 | $632/mo | 76% |
Grenada County towns compared
3 Census places fall mainly inside Grenada County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 13,392 residents, leaving about 37% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Grenada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grenada | city | 12,375 | $46,303 | $802 | 1 mi |
| Elliott | CDP | 681 | $58,045 | $420 | 6 mi |
| Holcomb | CDP | 336 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Grenada County median
Here is the Grenada County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,067 a month: gross income for a household at the Grenada County median
- Less median rent of $807, which is 20% of it
- $616: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,023 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Grenada County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Grenada County
Based on the Grenada County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Mobile home upkeep. 14% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Free help first. 25% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
People and households in Grenada County
22% of Grenada County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 10.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Grenada County | All of Mississippi | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.8% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.0% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.6% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Grenada County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
A Grenada County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Grenada County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Mississippi.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Mississippi rules that apply in Grenada County
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. More on Mississippi: Mississippi personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grenada County a high-income county?
Its $48,804 median ranks 46th of 82 Mississippi counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Grenada County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $807 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Grenada County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Grenada, Elliott, Holcomb.
Is the fit check different in Grenada County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Grenada County check a lender's license?
With the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.