1st Advantage MortgageJefferson County households have a median income of $38,305 and median rent of $448 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Mississippi license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Jefferson County
- Jefferson County housing compared with Mississippi
- Paychecks and income spread in Jefferson County
- Jobs and commutes in Jefferson County
- The counties around Jefferson County
- The communities that make up Jefferson County
- What a median Jefferson County budget can carry
- Reading the Jefferson County data as a borrower
- Jefferson County households compared
- Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Jefferson County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Jefferson County's population at 7,068; only 78 of Mississippi's 82 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 520 square miles, that works out to roughly 13.6 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jefferson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 1 Census place inside Jefferson County, Fayette leads by population with about 1,691. Because Jefferson County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Jefferson County housing compared with Mississippi
Renters in Jefferson County pay a median of $448 a month, 53% below the Mississippi figure of $954. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $81,300, about 2.1 times the median household income. 83% of Jefferson County households own their home and 17% rent. The median year built is 1986.
| Cost | Jefferson County | Mississippi figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $448/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $81,300 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 36.7% | 14.4% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Jefferson 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Jefferson County
The median household income in Jefferson County is $38,305; statewide it is $56,447, so Jefferson County runs 32% below Mississippi as a whole. Only 69 Mississippi counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Jefferson County | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 46.1% | +13.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.1% | -6.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.1% | -5.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -2.0 pts |
About 46% of households earn under $35,000, while 19% clear $100,000. 32.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.488 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $38,305 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Jefferson County
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Jefferson County residents work in education and health care and 17% in transportation, warehousing and utilities. The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 17% locally and 7% for Mississippi. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.8% in Jefferson County. Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Jefferson County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 17.2% | +9.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.8% | -5.2 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.
The counties around Jefferson County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (18 to 37 miles). Franklin County leads the group on income ($52,939), Claiborne County trails ($31,897), and Jefferson County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | - | $38,305 | $448/mo | 83% |
| Claiborne County, MS | 18 mi | $31,897 | $660/mo | 77% |
| Franklin County, MS | 20 mi | $52,939 | $725/mo | 82% |
| Adams County, MS | 25 mi | $43,644 | $734/mo | 68% |
| Tensas Parish, LA | 25 mi | $36,615 | $601/mo | 74% |
| Copiah County, MS | 36 mi | $49,089 | $766/mo | 74% |
| Lincoln County, MS | 37 mi | $51,119 | $760/mo | 75% |
The communities that make up Jefferson County
Fayette is the only Census place mainly inside Jefferson County, with about 1,691 of the county's 7,068 residents. Live in one of these Jefferson County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette | city | 1,691 | $28,567 | $425 | 2 mi |
What a median Jefferson County budget can carry
Jefferson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $3,192 gross per month ($38,305 / 12)
- 14% goes to median rent ($448)
- Under a 35% cap, $1,117 total minus rent leaves $669
- Under a 45% cap, $1,436 total minus rent leaves $988
Two-income households and single earners in Jefferson County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Jefferson County data as a borrower
Where the Jefferson County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Commuter costs. 24% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 37% of Jefferson County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 32% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Jefferson County households compared
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Jefferson County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.4% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.2% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 32.5% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Jefferson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.0% |
| 60+ min | 13.6% |
Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
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.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Jefferson County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Mississippi.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Jefferson County household make?
About $38,305 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 32% below the Mississippi median.
What do renters pay in Jefferson County?
$448 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Does this page cover Fayette?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Jefferson County.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Jefferson County or elsewhere in Mississippi, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Jefferson 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.