1st Advantage MortgageLee County households have a median income of $67,863 and median rent of $957 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Lee County
- Household income in Lee County
- What it costs to live in Lee County
- The Lee County job picture
- Places inside Lee County
- Regional comparison for Lee County
- More Lee County figures
- Reading the Lee County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Lee County
- A Lee County borrower's checklist
- Mississippi rules that apply in Lee County
- More guides for Lee County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lee County
With an estimated 83,034 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lee County ranks 7th of 82 in Mississippi for population. Packed into 450 square miles, that is close to 185 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (8 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Tupelo, with about 37,791 residents, or 46% of the county.
Household income in Lee County
At $67,863, the typical Lee County household income is 3% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Lee County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.4% | -4.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.2% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.3% | +4.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.1% | +1.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Lee County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. Census counts 14.6% of Lee County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lee County median.
What it costs to live in Lee County
A typical Lee County rental runs $957 a month including utilities. By the Census definition, 54% of Lee County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $199,500, about 2.9 times the median household income. Owners occupy 71% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Cost | Lee County | Mississippi figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $957/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $199,500 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.9% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 15% | 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?
The Lee County job picture
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Lee County residents work in education and health care and 21% in manufacturing. Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward manufacturing (21% against 13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.1% in Lee County. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. 6.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Lee County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.3% | +8.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -1.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.8% | -1.6 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Places inside Lee County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Lee County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 54,949 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Mooreville has the highest median household income on the list ($118,333) and Plantersville the lowest ($25,662), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Shannon ($822) and steepest in Mooreville ($1,079). None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tupelo | city | 37,791 | $66,257 | $976 | 3 mi |
| Saltillo | city | 4,952 | $80,640 | $999 | 6 mi |
| Verona | city | 2,748 | $46,148 | $1,011 | 7 mi |
| Guntown | town | 2,594 | $95,625 | $1,038 | 11 mi |
| Mooreville | CDP | 2,154 | $118,333 | $1,079 | 6 mi |
| Nettleton | city | 1,853 | $41,842 | $933 | 15 mi |
| Shannon | town | 1,383 | $42,297 | $822 | 12 mi |
| Plantersville | town | 929 | $25,662 | $832 | 6 mi |
| Sherman | town | 545 | $52,404 | $982 | 10 mi |
Regional comparison for Lee County
Distances run center to center, from Itawamba County at 18 miles out to Monroe County at 30. None of the six report a higher median household income than Lee County; Itawamba County is highest at $55,546 and Chickasaw County lowest at $43,586.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | - | $67,863 | $957/mo | 71% |
| Itawamba County, MS | 18 mi | $55,546 | $811/mo | 79% |
| Pontotoc County, MS | 21 mi | $51,484 | $864/mo | 70% |
| Union County, MS | 23 mi | $55,505 | $865/mo | 75% |
| Prentiss County, MS | 24 mi | $49,724 | $637/mo | 78% |
| Chickasaw County, MS | 29 mi | $43,586 | $670/mo | 70% |
| Monroe County, MS | 30 mi | $51,866 | $768/mo | 76% |
More Lee County figures
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. 10.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Lee County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.6% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.4% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 50.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.2% |
Reading the Lee County data as a borrower
Based on the Lee 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 54% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Room for a loan payment in Lee County
Here is the Lee County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Lee County: $5,655
- Housing at the median rent of $957 uses 17%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,079 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
A Lee County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Lee County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Mississippi rules that apply in Lee County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Lee County resident can confirm its license with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Mississippi guide.
More guides for Lee County
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lee County household make?
About $67,863 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% above the Mississippi median.
How does Lee County rent compare with Mississippi?
$957 locally, close to the state figure.
What are the biggest places in Lee County?
By population: Tupelo, Saltillo, Verona, Guntown, Mooreville. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Does living in Lee 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 Lee County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Lee 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.