1st Advantage MortgageIn Mississippi County, Arkansas, the typical household earns $52,548 a year and the typical rent is $830. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Mississippi County at a glance
- How much Mississippi County households make
- Mississippi County housing compared with Arkansas
- The Mississippi County job picture
- Counties near Mississippi County
- Towns and communities in Mississippi County
- A Mississippi County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Mississippi County
- Mississippi County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Arkansas rules that apply in Mississippi County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Mississippi County
- Frequently asked questions
Mississippi County at a glance
Roughly 39,126 residents live in Mississippi County, Arkansas, 18th by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. It covers 902 square miles of land, or about 43 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Blytheville is the biggest of its 18 Census places, at roughly 12,790 people (33% of the county total).
How much Mississippi County households make
Half of Mississippi County households take in less than $52,548 a year and half take in more, 14% below the Arkansas median of $60,773.
| Band | Mississippi County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.1% | +7.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.2% | -2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.9% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -0.9 pts |
Some 36% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 21.1% of Mississippi County residents in poverty, against 16.0% across Arkansas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.512 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Mississippi County median.
Mississippi County housing compared with Arkansas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $830 in Mississippi County versus $947 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. Home values center on $122,500, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 60%. Median construction year: 1977.
| Cost | Mississippi County | Arkansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $830/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $122,500 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 60% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 22% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The Mississippi County job picture
The biggest employer of Mississippi County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 25% of workers, followed by education and health care (21%). Manufacturing stands out: 25% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Mississippi County averages 6.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 81% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 11.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Mississippi County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.4% | +12.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | -1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.3% | -1.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Mississippi County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Counties near Mississippi County
Lauderdale County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Greene County, is 38 miles off. Tipton County leads the group on income ($74,127), Pemiscot County trails ($40,089), and Mississippi County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Missouri, Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi County | - | $52,548 | $830/mo | 60% |
| Lauderdale County, TN | 24 mi | $49,879 | $774/mo | 64% |
| Tipton County, TN | 25 mi | $74,127 | $1,013/mo | 76% |
| Dunklin County, MO | 27 mi | $47,849 | $648/mo | 62% |
| Craighead County, AR | 33 mi | $59,548 | $958/mo | 60% |
| Pemiscot County, MO | 34 mi | $40,089 | $695/mo | 56% |
| Greene County, AR | 38 mi | $57,839 | $904/mo | 66% |
Towns and communities in Mississippi County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 18 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 83% of Mississippi County residents live in one of the 18. Incomes vary by place: $78,646 at the median in Wilson, $46,202 in Osceola. None of the 18 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blytheville | city | 12,790 | $47,865 | $855 | 14 mi |
| Osceola | city | 6,688 | $46,202 | $846 | 6 mi |
| Manila | city | 3,691 | $55,792 | $711 | 10 mi |
| Gosnell | city | 2,778 | $61,130 | $891 | 14 mi |
| Leachville | city | 1,852 | $51,406 | $520 | 15 mi |
| Wilson | city | 1,023 | $78,646 | $1,000 | 14 mi |
| Keiser | city | 774 | $56,667 | $1,019 | 7 mi |
| Luxora | city | 741 | n/a | $745 | 7 mi |
| Joiner | city | 454 | $26,029 | $632 | 19 mi |
| Armorel | CDP | 345 | $137,917 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Etowah | town | 316 | $24,659 | $628 | 11 mi |
| Dyess | town | 289 | n/a | $754 | 15 mi |
| Burdette | town | 233 | $122,188 | $978 | 7 mi |
| Dell | town | 176 | $75,000 | $518 | 6 mi |
A Mississippi County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Mississippi County's medians:
- $4,379 a month: gross income for a household at the Mississippi County median
- Housing at the median rent of $830 uses 19%
- At 36%, room after rent is $746 a month
If your rent is above $830, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Mississippi County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Mississippi County borrowers.
- 21% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Tight rental budgets. With 51% of Mississippi County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Mississippi County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. 8.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Mississippi County | Arkansas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.7% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.1% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Mississippi County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Arkansas rules that apply in Mississippi County
Mississippi County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Arkansas State Bank Department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Arkansas: Arkansas personal loans.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Mississippi County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Mississippi County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Arkansas.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Mississippi County
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Mississippi County household make?
About $52,548 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 14% below the Arkansas median.
Is Mississippi County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $830 against $947 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Mississippi County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 18 Census places: Blytheville, Osceola, Manila, Gosnell, Leachville.
Will a Mississippi County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Arkansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Mississippi County residents?
The Arkansas State Bank Department licenses consumer lenders in Arkansas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.