1st Advantage MortgageJones County households have a median income of $52,216 and median rent of $869 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Mississippi before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Jones County
- What Jones County households earn
- What it costs to live in Jones County
- How Jones County residents earn a living
- Jones County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Jones County
- Room for a loan payment in Jones County
- People and households in Jones County
- What the numbers mean for Jones County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Jones County
- Checklist for Jones County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Jones County
Jones County is home to about 66,472 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 10th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Land area is 695 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 96 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jones County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (4 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Laurel, with about 17,679 residents, or 27% of the county.
What Jones County households earn
Half of Jones County households take in less than $52,216 a year and half take in more, 7% below the Mississippi median of $56,447.
| Households earning | Jones County | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.7% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | -0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | +0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -0.8 pts |
About 34% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 18.7%, the same as the state's 18.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.485 here. For a borrower in Jones 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.
What it costs to live in Jones County
A typical Jones County rental runs $869 a month including utilities, which is 9% below Mississippi. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. Home values center on $143,100, or 2.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 75%.
| Jones County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $869/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $143,100 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 26% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). 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?
How Jones County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Jones County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (5% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Only 4.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Jones County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.1% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.1% | -0.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Jones County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Covington County at 22 miles out to Smith County at 34. Smith County leads the group on income ($60,916), Wayne County trails ($37,619), and Jones County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County | - | $52,216 | $869/mo | 75% |
| Covington County, MS | 22 mi | $45,051 | $662/mo | 78% |
| Jasper County, MS | 28 mi | $48,660 | $724/mo | 82% |
| Wayne County, MS | 29 mi | $37,619 | $784/mo | 85% |
| Forrest County, MS | 30 mi | $53,640 | $972/mo | 57% |
| Perry County, MS | 33 mi | $49,634 | $755/mo | 82% |
| Smith County, MS | 34 mi | $60,916 | $664/mo | 87% |
The communities that make up Jones County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Jones County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 25,458 people, so roughly 62% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $32,100 in Ellisville to $102,188 in Sharon. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel | city | 17,679 | $47,661 | $909 | 5 mi |
| Ellisville | city | 4,521 | $32,100 | $872 | 3 mi |
| Sharon | CDP | 1,910 | $102,188 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Soso | town | 431 | $51,250 | $882 | 11 mi |
| Sandersville | town | 413 | $52,667 | $718 | 14 mi |
| Ovett | CDP | 333 | $121,336 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Moselle | CDP | 89 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Eastabuchie | CDP | 82 | $124,861 | n/a | 15 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Jones County
Jones County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $52,216 a year is $4,351 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $869, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 40% ceiling, about $872 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $869, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Jones County
21% of Jones County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 11.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Jones County | Mississippi | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.7% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.9% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Jones County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
What the numbers mean for Jones County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Jones County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 12% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 21% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 19% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Licensing and complaints for Jones County
The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance is the place to verify any lender's Mississippi license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Mississippi guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Jones County applicants
Quick steps for Jones County:
- Price the Jones County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Mississippi borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Jones County household make?
About $52,216 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 7% below the Mississippi median.
What do renters pay in Jones County?
$869 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
I live in a small Jones County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Laurel, Ellisville, Sharon, Soso, Sandersville and 3 more.
Are Jones County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Jones 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.