1st Advantage MortgageThe median Jasper County household earns $48,660, and 19% 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
- A quick profile of Jasper County
- What it costs to live in Jasper County
- Income in Jasper County compared with Mississippi
- Jobs and commutes in Jasper County
- Jasper County towns compared
- The counties around Jasper County
- Room for a loan payment in Jasper County
- More Jasper County figures
- Reading the Jasper County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for Jasper County
- Four steps for Jasper County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Jasper County
Jasper County is home to about 16,059 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 55th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Spread over 676 square miles, that works out to roughly 23.7 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jasper County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Bay Springs is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 1,855 people (12% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Jasper County
Renters in Jasper County pay a median of $724 a month, 24% below the Mississippi figure of $954. By the Census definition, 39% of Jasper County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $107,100, or 2.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 82%.
| Housing | Jasper County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $724/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $107,100 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 33.3% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Jasper 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.
Income in Jasper County compared with Mississippi
Half of Jasper County households take in less than $48,660 a year and half take in more, 14% below the Mississippi median of $56,447. That places it 48th among Mississippi's 82 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Jasper County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 41.3% | +8.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.4% | -1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.0% | -3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.3% | -3.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 19% of Jasper County households make $100,000 or more, and 41% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 19.4%, 1 point higher than the state's 18.9%. For a borrower in Jasper 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 Jasper County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Jasper County residents work in manufacturing and 24% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 24% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Jasper County averages 6.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 10.1% of the total (6.3% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Jasper County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.1% | +11.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 23.8% | -1.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.1% | -4.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.4% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -2.5 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Jasper County towns compared
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Jasper County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 3,172 people, so roughly 80% of residents live outside any named place. No Jasper County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Springs | city | 1,855 | $50,306 | $300 | 10 mi |
| Heidelberg | town | 756 | $49,896 | $1,004 | 12 mi |
| Louin | town | 393 | $58,846 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Montrose | town | 168 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
The counties around Jasper County
Distances run center to center, from Smith County at 22 miles out to Covington County at 37. Income ranges from $45,051 in Covington County to $60,916 in Smith County; 4 of these neighbors top Jasper County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper County | - | $48,660 | $724/mo | 82% |
| Smith County, MS | 22 mi | $60,916 | $664/mo | 87% |
| Clarke County, MS | 25 mi | $46,108 | $801/mo | 82% |
| Newton County, MS | 27 mi | $50,540 | $638/mo | 79% |
| Jones County, MS | 28 mi | $52,216 | $869/mo | 75% |
| Scott County, MS | 36 mi | $48,786 | $888/mo | 71% |
| Covington County, MS | 37 mi | $45,051 | $662/mo | 78% |
Room for a loan payment in Jasper County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Jasper County's medians:
- $4,055 a month: gross income for a household at the Jasper County median
- 18% goes to median rent ($724)
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $898 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.
More Jasper County figures
Degree holders: 12% of adults over 25. 8.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Jasper County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.2% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.1% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.2% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 15.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.3% |
| 60+ min | 13.4% |
Reading the Jasper County data as a borrower
What the Jasper County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 23% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 33% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Jasper County loan.
Licensing and complaints for Jasper County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Jasper 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.
Four steps for Jasper County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Jasper County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Jasper County?
$48,660 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $56,447 for Mississippi. It ranks 48th of 82 in the state.
What do renters pay in Jasper County?
$724 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
I live in a small Jasper County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Bay Springs, Heidelberg, Louin, Montrose.
Is the fit check different in Jasper County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Jasper 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.