1st Advantage MortgageIn Montgomery County, Mississippi, the typical household earns $41,748 a year and the typical rent is $734. 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
- Who lives in Montgomery County
- How much Montgomery County households make
- Renting and owning in Montgomery County
- Work, industries and travel time in Montgomery County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Montgomery County
- How Montgomery County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Montgomery County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Montgomery County
- Montgomery County households compared
- Four steps for Montgomery County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Montgomery County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Montgomery County
With an estimated 9,602 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Montgomery County ranks 70th of 82 in Mississippi for population. Spread over 407 square miles, that works out to roughly 23.6 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 4 Census places inside Montgomery County, Winona leads by population with about 4,183; 3 of the 4 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Montgomery County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How much Montgomery County households make
Half of Montgomery County households take in less than $41,748 a year and half take in more, 26% below the Mississippi median of $56,447.
| Income band | Share in Montgomery County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 43.8% | +11.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.7% | -5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.7% | -3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Montgomery County households make $100,000 or more, and 44% make less than $35,000. 25.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Montgomery County median.
Renting and owning in Montgomery County
A typical Montgomery County rental runs $734 a month including utilities, which is 23% below Mississippi. 56% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 48% spend half or more. With a median value of $126,800, a typical Montgomery County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 76% of Montgomery County households own their home and 24% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Housing | Montgomery County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $734/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $126,800 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 24% | 15% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Work, industries and travel time in Montgomery County
The biggest employer of Montgomery County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 19% locally and 13% for Mississippi. The survey's unemployment rate for Montgomery County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 8.8% of the total (6.3% statewide).
| Top industries | Montgomery County share | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.8% | -5.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.8% | +5.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | +0.1 pts |
| Public administration | 7.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.3% | -1.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Montgomery County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Montgomery County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 5,651 people, so roughly 41% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winona | city | 4,183 | $31,932 | $728 | 5 mi |
| Duck Hill | town | 733 | $33,542 | $765 | 10 mi |
| Kilmichael | town | 467 | $42,432 | $875 | 6 mi |
| Stewart | CDP | 268 | $2,499 | n/a | 12 mi |
How Montgomery County compares with nearby counties
Carroll County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Calhoun County, is 35 miles off. Carroll County leads the group on income ($59,327), Calhoun County trails ($43,125), and Montgomery County out-earns 0 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | - | $41,748 | $734/mo | 76% |
| Carroll County, MS | 17 mi | $59,327 | $662/mo | 84% |
| Grenada County, MS | 21 mi | $48,804 | $807/mo | 67% |
| Webster County, MS | 22 mi | $58,789 | $632/mo | 76% |
| Choctaw County, MS | 25 mi | $50,919 | $638/mo | 79% |
| Attala County, MS | 28 mi | $51,639 | $825/mo | 75% |
| Calhoun County, MS | 35 mi | $43,125 | $662/mo | 72% |
What a median Montgomery County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Montgomery County's medians:
- $3,479 a month: gross income for a household at the Montgomery County median
- Less median rent of $734, which is 21% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $518 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Montgomery County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Montgomery County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Montgomery County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Montgomery County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 19% of Montgomery County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Assistance before credit. With a 25% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Montgomery County loan.
- Tight rental budgets. With 56% of Montgomery County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Montgomery County households compared
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 10.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Montgomery County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.4% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.2% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.8% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.2% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.7% |
| 60+ min | 11.3% |
Four steps for Montgomery County borrowers
A short checklist for Montgomery County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Mississippi.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Montgomery County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Montgomery County, check the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Mississippi guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Montgomery County household make?
About $41,748 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 26% below the Mississippi median.
Is Montgomery County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $734 against $954 statewide, and 56% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Montgomery County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Montgomery County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Montgomery County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Winona, Duck Hill, Kilmichael, Stewart.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Montgomery County or elsewhere in Mississippi, the same rules apply.