1st Advantage MortgageLeake County households have a median income of $50,728 and median rent of $765 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Leake County
- Housing costs in Leake County
- Paychecks and income spread in Leake County
- How Leake County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Leake County
- The counties around Leake County
- Budget math at the Leake County median
- More Leake County figures
- Before borrowing in Leake County
- Mississippi rules that apply in Leake County
- A Leake County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Leake County
Leake County is home to about 21,319 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 42nd most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Land area is 583 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 37 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Leake County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (3 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Carthage, with about 4,866 residents, or 23% of the county.
Housing costs in Leake County
A typical Leake County rental runs $765 a month including utilities, which is 20% below Mississippi. 37% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $116,800, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%. The median year built is 1982.
| Leake County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $765/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $116,800 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 15% | n/a |
Because most Leake County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Paychecks and income spread in Leake County
Leake County households have a median income of $50,728 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 38th of 82 in Mississippi.
| Household income | Leake County | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.6% | +4.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.4% | -6.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -2.3 pts |
Some 37% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 18% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 20.5% of Leake County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.461 here. A household earning below the $50,728 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Leake County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 21%. Manufacturing stands out: 21% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Leake County averages 6.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). About 82% drive to work alone and 32% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 8.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Leake County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.2% | +8.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -2.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.4% | -3.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.4% | -2.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Leake County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Towns and communities in Leake County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Leake County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 6,888 people, so roughly 68% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $42,254 in Carthage to $63,398 in Redwater. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage | city | 4,866 | $42,254 | $705 | 1 mi |
| Walnut Grove | town | 737 | $42,634 | $535 | 12 mi |
| Redwater | CDP | 637 | $63,398 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Standing Pine | CDP | 479 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Lena | town | 169 | $96,786 | n/a | 12 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
The counties around Leake County
Six nearby counties, 23 to 36 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Leake County; Madison County is highest at $83,441 and Scott County lowest at $48,786.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leake County | - | $50,728 | $765/mo | 77% |
| Attala County, MS | 23 mi | $51,639 | $825/mo | 75% |
| Neshoba County, MS | 23 mi | $57,013 | $839/mo | 78% |
| Scott County, MS | 24 mi | $48,786 | $888/mo | 71% |
| Madison County, MS | 31 mi | $83,441 | $1,186/mo | 71% |
| Newton County, MS | 34 mi | $50,540 | $638/mo | 79% |
| Winston County, MS | 36 mi | $53,031 | $721/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Leake County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Leake County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,227 before taxes
- 18% goes to median rent ($765)
- Under a 35% cap, $1,480 total minus rent leaves $715
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,137 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Leake County's.
More Leake County figures
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. 15.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Leake County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.7% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.4% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.5% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.7% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.5% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.2% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Leake County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.9% |
| 60+ min | 21.3% |
Before borrowing in Leake County
Based on the Leake County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 15% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Long drives. With 32% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Leake County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 25% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Free help first. 21% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Mississippi rules that apply in Leake County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Leake County, check the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Mississippi: Mississippi personal loans.
A Leake County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Leake County borrowers:
- Price the Leake County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Leake County household make?
About $50,728 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% below the Mississippi median.
How much is rent in Leake County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $765 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Leake County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Leake County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Carthage?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Leake County, such as Walnut Grove, Redwater, Standing Pine.
Does living in Leake County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Leake County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.