1st Advantage MortgageIn Hancock County, Mississippi, the typical household earns $67,708 a year and the typical rent is $977. 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
- A quick profile of Hancock County
- What Hancock County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Hancock County
- What it costs to live in Hancock County
- Hancock County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Hancock County
- Room for a loan payment in Hancock County
- Hancock County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Hancock County
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Hancock County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Hancock County
With an estimated 46,167 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Hancock County ranks 16th of 82 in Mississippi for population. Packed into 474 square miles, that is close to 97 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metropolitan area. Of the 5 Census places inside Hancock County, Bay St. Louis leads by population with about 10,188; 3 of the 5 are incorporated.
What Hancock County households earn
The median household income in Hancock County is $67,708; statewide it is $56,447, so Hancock County runs 20% above Mississippi as a whole.
| Household income | Hancock County | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | -6.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.6% | -1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.2% | +7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | +0.7 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. 13.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). A household earning below the $67,708 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Hancock County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Hancock County residents work in education and health care and 11% in arts, lodging and food service. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 10% locally and 7% for Mississippi. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 28% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Hancock County workers | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.1% | -2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.7% | +1.9 pts |
| Construction | 10.3% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | +1.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.9% | +1.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Hancock County
Renters in Hancock County pay a median of $977 a month, 2% above the Mississippi figure of $954. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $224,200, about 3.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 79%.
| Measure | Hancock County | Mississippi | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $977/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $224,200 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 26% | n/a |
Because most Hancock 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Hancock County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hancock County's, from 24 to 36 miles away. Income ranges from $56,631 in Orleans Parish to $81,202 in St. Tammany Parish; 1 of these neighbors top Hancock County's median. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | - | $67,708 | $977/mo | 79% |
| Harrison County, MS | 24 mi | $59,479 | $1,115/mo | 62% |
| Pearl River County, MS | 27 mi | $58,135 | $906/mo | 80% |
| St. Tammany Parish, LA | 28 mi | $81,202 | $1,332/mo | 79% |
| St. Bernard Parish, LA | 35 mi | $58,651 | $1,082/mo | 70% |
| Stone County, MS | 35 mi | $61,413 | $936/mo | 81% |
| Orleans Parish, LA | 36 mi | $56,631 | $1,251/mo | 51% |
Places inside Hancock County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Hancock County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 29,882 residents, leaving about 35% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $87,407 at the median in Diamondhead, $44,507 in Pearlington. Rent is cheapest in Waveland ($927) and steepest in Diamondhead ($1,571). No Hancock County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay St. Louis | city | 10,188 | $67,442 | $1,179 | 9 mi |
| Diamondhead | city | 9,338 | $87,407 | $1,571 | 8 mi |
| Waveland | city | 7,062 | $68,693 | $927 | 9 mi |
| Kiln | CDP | 2,016 | $71,875 | $1,403 | 4 mi |
| Pearlington | CDP | 1,278 | $44,507 | n/a | 12 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Hancock County
Here is the Hancock County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,642 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $977, takes 17% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,280 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Hancock County households compared
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Hancock County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.8% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.3% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Hancock County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.6% |
| 60+ min | 13.5% |
Local borrowing considerations for Hancock County
A few patterns in the Hancock County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 28% of Hancock County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Older households. A 46.6 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hancock County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Hancock County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Hancock County
The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance is the place to verify any lender's Mississippi license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Mississippi guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Hancock County household make?
About $67,708 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% above the Mississippi median.
What do renters pay in Hancock County?
$977 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Hancock County?
By population: Bay St. Louis, Diamondhead, Waveland, Kiln, Pearlington. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Hancock County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Hancock County?
Start with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.