1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lauderdale County household earns $50,817, and 26% 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
- Lauderdale County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Lauderdale County
- Paychecks and income spread in Lauderdale County
- Work, industries and travel time in Lauderdale County
- Lauderdale County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Lauderdale County
- People and households in Lauderdale County
- What the numbers mean for Lauderdale County borrowers
- A Lauderdale County household budget, worked through
- Licensing and complaints for Lauderdale County
- Steps before you apply in Lauderdale County
- More guides for Lauderdale County
- Frequently asked questions
Lauderdale County at a glance
Lauderdale County is home to about 71,504 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 9th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Land area is 704 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 102 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lauderdale County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (2 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Meridian, with about 34,137 residents, or 48% of the county.
Renting and owning in Lauderdale County
Renters in Lauderdale County pay a median of $953 a month, in line with Mississippi's $954. By the Census definition, 53% of Lauderdale County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $133,300, or 2.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 65% of homes. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Lauderdale County | Mississippi figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $953/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $133,300 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.9% | 14.4% | n/a |
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?
Paychecks and income spread in Lauderdale County
At $50,817, the typical Lauderdale County household income is 23% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 37th of 82.
| Household income | Lauderdale County | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.6% | +6.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.1% | -5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.5% | +1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -2.0 pts |
Some 39% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 26.3% of Lauderdale County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.488 here. None of these numbers decides a Lauderdale County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Lauderdale County
The biggest employer of Lauderdale County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 32% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward education and health care (32% against 25%). The survey's unemployment rate for Lauderdale County averages 5.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 9.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Lauderdale County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.0% | +6.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | -2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -0.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Lauderdale County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Lauderdale County's, from 24 to 37 miles away. Neshoba County leads the group on income ($57,013), Sumter County trails ($33,310), and Lauderdale County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Alabama. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lauderdale County resident follows Mississippi rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lauderdale County | - | $50,817 | $953/mo | 65% |
| Kemper County, MS | 24 mi | $46,431 | $677/mo | 79% |
| Clarke County, MS | 25 mi | $46,108 | $801/mo | 82% |
| Newton County, MS | 27 mi | $50,540 | $638/mo | 79% |
| Sumter County, AL | 30 mi | $33,310 | $775/mo | 67% |
| Neshoba County, MS | 36 mi | $57,013 | $839/mo | 78% |
| Choctaw County, AL | 37 mi | $47,813 | $543/mo | 82% |
Towns and communities in Lauderdale County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Lauderdale County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 40,579 people, so roughly 43% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $78,750 at the median in Collinsville, $36,562 in Meridian. Median rent ranges from $910 in Meridian to $1,362 in Meridian Station. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian | city | 34,137 | $36,562 | $910 | 2 mi |
| Marion | town | 2,030 | $46,500 | $1,057 | 2 mi |
| Collinsville | CDP | 1,725 | $78,750 | $1,009 | 12 mi |
| Nellieburg | CDP | 1,197 | $60,577 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Meridian Station | CDP | 661 | $64,773 | $1,362 | 10 mi |
| Toomsuba | CDP | 512 | $73,387 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Lauderdale | CDP | 317 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
People and households in Lauderdale County
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. 9.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Lauderdale County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.6% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.4% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.5% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 26.3% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
What the numbers mean for Lauderdale County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lauderdale County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Lauderdale County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 26% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- 53% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
A Lauderdale County household budget, worked through
Lauderdale County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,235 a month: gross income for a household at the Lauderdale County median
- Less median rent of $953, which is 23% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $868 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Lauderdale County's.
Licensing and complaints for Lauderdale County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lauderdale County, check the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Mississippi state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Lauderdale County
A short checklist for Lauderdale County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lauderdale County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Mississippi borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Lauderdale County
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lauderdale County?
$50,817 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $56,447 for Mississippi. It ranks 37th of 82 in the state.
How much is rent in Lauderdale County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $953 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Meridian?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Lauderdale County, such as Marion, Collinsville, Nellieburg.
Will a Lauderdale County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Mississippi as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Lauderdale County?
Start with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.