1st Advantage MortgageLowndes County households have a median income of $53,812 and median rent of $930 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
- Lowndes County at a glance
- How much Lowndes County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Lowndes County
- What it costs to live in Lowndes County
- Regional comparison for Lowndes County
- The communities that make up Lowndes County
- Lowndes County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Lowndes County
- What a median Lowndes County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in Lowndes County
- Mississippi rules that apply in Lowndes County
- More guides for Lowndes County
- Frequently asked questions
Lowndes County at a glance
Lowndes County is home to about 57,838 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 13th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Packed into 505 square miles, that is close to 114 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Lowndes County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (4 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Columbus, with about 23,348 residents, or 40% of the county.
How much Lowndes County households make
Half of Lowndes County households take in less than $53,812 a year and half take in more, 5% below the Mississippi median of $56,447. That places it 23rd among Mississippi's 82 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Lowndes County | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.9% | +1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.7% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -0.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Lowndes County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. 17.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.476 here. For a borrower in Lowndes County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Lowndes County
The biggest employer of Lowndes County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). Manufacturing stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in Lowndes County. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Lowndes County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.4% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.8% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.2% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -1.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Lowndes County
A typical Lowndes County rental runs $930 a month including utilities, which is 3% below Mississippi. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. Home values center on $164,100, or 3.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 61%.
| Cost | Lowndes County | Mississippi figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $930/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $164,100 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.0% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 15% | n/a |
Regional comparison for Lowndes County
Pickens County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Lamar County, is 30 miles off. Income ranges from $33,833 in Noxubee County to $51,866 in Monroe County; none of these neighbors top Lowndes County's median. The list crosses into Alabama, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowndes County | - | $53,812 | $930/mo | 61% |
| Pickens County, AL | 23 mi | $46,274 | $648/mo | 76% |
| Clay County, MS | 24 mi | $43,125 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Oktibbeha County, MS | 25 mi | $46,695 | $915/mo | 48% |
| Noxubee County, MS | 26 mi | $33,833 | $677/mo | 73% |
| Monroe County, MS | 29 mi | $51,866 | $768/mo | 76% |
| Lamar County, AL | 30 mi | $50,000 | $549/mo | 76% |
The communities that make up Lowndes County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Lowndes County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 30,623 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. Caledonia has the highest median household income on the list ($82,806) and Columbus the lowest ($42,235), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Columbus ($897) and steepest in Columbus AFB ($1,500). None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | city | 23,348 | $42,235 | $897 | 3 mi |
| New Hope | CDP | 3,952 | $79,577 | $989 | 6 mi |
| Caledonia | town | 1,414 | $82,806 | $1,042 | 16 mi |
| Columbus AFB | CDP | 1,293 | $69,539 | $1,500 | 11 mi |
| Artesia | town | 361 | $19,620 | $397 | 12 mi |
| Crawford | town | 255 | $39,286 | $880 | 16 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Lowndes County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 28% of adults over 25. 10.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Lowndes County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.1% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.7% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lowndes County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 47.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Lowndes County
Where the Lowndes County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- 49% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
What a median Lowndes County budget can carry
Here is the Lowndes County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,484 a month: gross income for a household at the Lowndes County median
- Less median rent of $930, which is 21% of it
- At 40%, room after rent is $864 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Steps before you apply in Lowndes County
A short checklist for Lowndes County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Lowndes County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lowndes County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Mississippi borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Mississippi rules that apply in Lowndes County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lowndes County, check the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Mississippi guide.
More guides for Lowndes County
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lowndes County earn?
The median is $53,812; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 34% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Lowndes County?
$930 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
Does this page cover Columbus?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Lowndes County, such as New Hope, Caledonia, Columbus AFB.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Lowndes County or elsewhere in Mississippi, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Lowndes 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.