1st Advantage MortgageThe median Pike County household earns $43,814, and 27% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Pike County
- Household income in Pike County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Pike County
- Jobs and commutes in Pike County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Pike County
- How Pike County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Pike County budget can carry
- Pike County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Pike County
- Mississippi rules that apply in Pike County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Pike County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Pike County
Pike County is home to about 39,602 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Land area is 409 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 97 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Pike County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (4 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is McComb, with about 12,049 residents, or 30% of the county.
Household income in Pike County
The median household income in Pike County is $43,814; statewide it is $56,447, so Pike County runs 22% below Mississippi as a whole.
| Household income | Pike County | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 41.1% | +8.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.0% | -8.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.0% | -2.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 15% of Pike County households make $100,000 or more, and 41% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 27.1%, 8 points higher than the state's 18.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.495 here. None of these numbers decides a Pike County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Pike County
Renters in Pike County pay a median of $919 a month, 4% below the Mississippi figure of $954. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $110,800, about 2.5 times the median household income. 67% of Pike County households own their home and 33% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1984.
| Home costs | Pike County | Mississippi | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $919/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $110,800 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.5% | 14.4% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Pike County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward manufacturing (18% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home.
| Top industries | Pike County share | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.0% | +5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | -0.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.2% | -2.3 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 Pike County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Pike County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 18,027 residents, leaving about 54% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Magnolia has the highest median household income on the list ($55,057) and Summit the lowest ($29,375), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McComb | city | 12,049 | $40,707 | $873 | 6 mi |
| Magnolia | city | 3,059 | $55,057 | $939 | 4 mi |
| Summit | town | 2,451 | $29,375 | $929 | 8 mi |
| Osyka | town | 411 | $41,042 | $638 | 13 mi |
| Fernwood | CDP | 57 | $91,125 | n/a | 4 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
How Pike County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 31 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Pike County; Lincoln County is highest at $51,119 and Amite County lowest at $37,222. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pike County | - | $43,814 | $919/mo | 67% |
| Walthall County, MS | 17 mi | $48,905 | $790/mo | 80% |
| Amite County, MS | 24 mi | $37,222 | $670/mo | 82% |
| Lincoln County, MS | 25 mi | $51,119 | $760/mo | 75% |
| Washington Parish, LA | 31 mi | $45,380 | $774/mo | 69% |
| St. Helena Parish, LA | 31 mi | $41,934 | $870/mo | 79% |
| Lawrence County, MS | 31 mi | $43,531 | $753/mo | 84% |
What a median Pike County budget can carry
Here is the Pike County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $3,651 a month: gross income for a household at the Pike County median
- Housing at the median rent of $919 uses 25%
- At 36%, room after rent is $395 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $1,570 total minus rent leaves $651
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Pike County households compared
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Pike County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.9% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.9% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 27.1% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Pike County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 12.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Pike County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Pike County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 26% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Assistance before credit. With a 27% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Pike County loan.
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Mississippi rules that apply in Pike County
The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance is the place to verify any lender's Mississippi license. 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.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Pike County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Pike County
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Pike County household make?
About $43,814 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 22% below the Mississippi median.
Is Pike County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $919 against $954 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Pike County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: McComb, Magnolia, Summit, Osyka, Fernwood.
Does living in Pike 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 Pike County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Pike County residents?
The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance licenses consumer lenders in Mississippi; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.