1st Advantage MortgageThe median Kemper County household earns $46,431, and 25% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Kemper County by the numbers
- What Kemper County households earn
- The Kemper County job picture
- Kemper County housing compared with Mississippi
- Regional comparison for Kemper County
- Towns and communities in Kemper County
- What a median Kemper County budget can carry
- Kemper County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Kemper County
- Lender oversight for Kemper County
- Checklist for Kemper County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kemper County by the numbers
Kemper County is home to about 8,729 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 72nd most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Spread over 766 square miles, that works out to roughly 11.4 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Kemper County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. De Kalb is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 791 people (9% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Kemper County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What Kemper County households earn
At $46,431, the typical Kemper County household income is 29% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 50th of 82.
| Households earning | Kemper County | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.2% | +7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.6% | -8.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -2.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 16% of Kemper County households make $100,000 or more, and 40% make less than $35,000. Census counts 24.8% of Kemper County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.465 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Kemper County median.
The Kemper County job picture
Education and health care employs 31% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward education and health care (31% against 25%). The survey's unemployment rate for Kemper County averages 10.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). Long commutes are common here: 26% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Kemper County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.1% | +5.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | +1.9 pts |
| Wholesale trade | 6.0% | +4.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Kemper County housing compared with Mississippi
Renters in Kemper County pay a median of $677 a month, 29% below the Mississippi figure of $954. By the Census definition, 33% of Kemper County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $99,600, about 2.1 times the median household income. Owners occupy 79% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1979.
| Measure | Kemper County | Mississippi | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $677/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $99,600 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 40% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.9% | 14.4% | 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).
Regional comparison for Kemper County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Kemper County's, from 24 to 37 miles away. Neshoba County leads the group on income ($57,013), Sumter County trails ($33,310), and Kemper County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into Alabama, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kemper County | - | $46,431 | $677/mo | 79% |
| Lauderdale County, MS | 24 mi | $50,817 | $953/mo | 65% |
| Noxubee County, MS | 25 mi | $33,833 | $677/mo | 73% |
| Sumter County, AL | 27 mi | $33,310 | $775/mo | 67% |
| Neshoba County, MS | 29 mi | $57,013 | $839/mo | 78% |
| Winston County, MS | 33 mi | $53,031 | $721/mo | 73% |
| Newton County, MS | 37 mi | $50,540 | $638/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Kemper County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Kemper County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 1,509 people, so roughly 83% of residents live outside any named place. No Kemper County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Kalb | town | 791 | $47,500 | $675 | 2 mi |
| Scooba | town | 718 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Porterville | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
What a median Kemper County budget can carry
Here is the Kemper County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Kemper County: $3,869
- Housing at the median rent of $677 uses 17%
- Under a 36% cap, $1,393 total minus rent leaves $716
- $987: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Kemper County households compared
19% of Kemper County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Kemper County | All of Mississippi | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.6% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.7% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.4% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 0.8% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.8% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.6% |
| 60+ min | 14.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Kemper County
Where the Kemper County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 15% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Keeping the car running. At 26% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Kemper County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 22% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 25% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Lender oversight for Kemper County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Kemper County, check the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Mississippi guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Kemper County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Kemper County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Mississippi license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Kemper County household make?
About $46,431 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 18% below the Mississippi median.
What do renters pay in Kemper County?
$677 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Which towns does the Kemper County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: De Kalb, Scooba, Porterville.
Are Kemper 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 Kemper 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.