1st Advantage MortgageIn Lamar County, Mississippi, the typical household earns $70,909 a year and the typical rent is $1,126. 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
- Who lives in Lamar County
- Work, industries and travel time in Lamar County
- Income in Lamar County compared with Mississippi
- Renting and owning in Lamar County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lamar County
- Regional comparison for Lamar County
- More Lamar County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Lamar County
- Room for a loan payment in Lamar County
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Lamar County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Lamar County
Lamar County is home to about 65,713 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 11th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. It covers 497 square miles of land, or about 132 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Hattiesburg, MS metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 7 Census places inside Lamar County, West Hattiesburg leads by population with about 6,715; 3 of the 7 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Lamar County
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 11%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 28% locally and 25% for Mississippi. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Lamar County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.4% | +3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.7% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | -2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.5% | +2.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Income in Lamar County compared with Mississippi
Lamar County households have a median income of $70,909 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 4th of 82 in Mississippi.
| Yearly household income | Lamar County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.4% | -9.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | +1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.8% | +4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.0% | +3.2 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 14.7%, 4 points lower than the state's 18.9%. None of these numbers decides a Lamar County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Lamar County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,126 in Lamar County versus $954 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $224,700, about 3.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 70%. Median construction year: 1999.
| Measure | Lamar County | Mississippi | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,126/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $224,700 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.7% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 15% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Lamar County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 24% of Lamar County residents live in one of the 7. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,147 in Lumberton to $82,411 in Oak Grove. Rent is cheapest in Lumberton ($866) and steepest in Arnold Line ($1,360). Live in one of these Lamar County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Hattiesburg | CDP | 6,715 | $39,366 | $978 | 11 mi |
| Oak Grove | CDP | 2,098 | $82,411 | $1,218 | 8 mi |
| Purvis | city | 1,914 | $45,667 | $939 | 7 mi |
| Arnold Line | CDP | 1,859 | $53,750 | $1,360 | 12 mi |
| Sumrall | town | 1,674 | $70,382 | $950 | 15 mi |
| Lumberton | city | 1,320 | $38,147 | $866 | 14 mi |
| Baxterville | CDP | 423 | $45,839 | n/a | 9 mi |
Regional comparison for Lamar County
Distances run center to center, from Forrest County at 15 miles out to Jefferson Davis County at 32. Pearl River County leads the group on income ($58,135), Jefferson Davis County trails ($38,548), and Lamar County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar County | - | $70,909 | $1,126/mo | 70% |
| Forrest County, MS | 15 mi | $53,640 | $972/mo | 57% |
| Marion County, MS | 19 mi | $45,110 | $818/mo | 77% |
| Pearl River County, MS | 30 mi | $58,135 | $906/mo | 80% |
| Covington County, MS | 30 mi | $45,051 | $662/mo | 78% |
| Perry County, MS | 31 mi | $49,634 | $755/mo | 82% |
| Jefferson Davis County, MS | 32 mi | $38,548 | $757/mo | 84% |
More Lamar County figures
Degree holders: 34% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Lamar County | Mississippi | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.5% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.0% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lamar County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Lamar County
Based on the Lamar County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 45% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Lamar County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Room for a loan payment in Lamar County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lamar County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,909 a month: gross income for a household at the Lamar County median
- 19% goes to median rent ($1,126)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,001 left for all other debt payments
- $1,415: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Lamar County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Mississippi license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Lamar County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Lamar County
Consumer lenders serving Lamar County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Mississippi that is the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Mississippi state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lamar County earn?
The median is $70,909; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Lamar County rent compare with Mississippi?
$1,126 locally versus $954 for the state, 18% above.
Does this page cover West Hattiesburg?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Lamar County, such as Oak Grove, Purvis, Arnold Line.
Is the fit check different in Lamar County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Lamar County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Mississippi it is the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance.