1st Advantage MortgagePontotoc County households have a median income of $51,484 and median rent of $864 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Mississippi before sharing details.
On this page
- Pontotoc County, MS: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Pontotoc County
- Household income in Pontotoc County
- Housing costs in Pontotoc County
- The counties around Pontotoc County
- Towns and communities in Pontotoc County
- What a median Pontotoc County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Pontotoc County
- Pontotoc County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Four steps for Pontotoc County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Pontotoc County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pontotoc County, MS: the basics
With an estimated 31,550 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Pontotoc County ranks 25th of 82 in Mississippi for population. Packed into 498 square miles, that is close to 63 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Pontotoc County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (5 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Pontotoc, with about 5,806 residents, or 18% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Pontotoc County
The biggest employer of Pontotoc County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 27% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward manufacturing (27% against 13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.1% in Pontotoc County. About 87% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Pontotoc County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 26.7% | +13.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -5.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.9% | -2.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Pontotoc County
At $51,484, the typical Pontotoc County household income is 22% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 32 Mississippi counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Pontotoc County | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.1% | -3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -2.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Pontotoc County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. 16.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.437 here. For a borrower in Pontotoc 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.
Housing costs in Pontotoc County
A typical Pontotoc County rental runs $864 a month including utilities, which is 9% below Mississippi. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 12% spend half or more. With a median value of $157,100, a typical Pontotoc County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 70% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1989.
| Measure | Pontotoc County | Mississippi | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $864/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $157,100 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 28.8% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 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 counties around Pontotoc County
Six nearby counties, 18 to 38 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Pontotoc County; Lee County is highest at $67,863 and Calhoun County lowest at $43,125.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontotoc County | - | $51,484 | $864/mo | 70% |
| Union County, MS | 18 mi | $55,505 | $865/mo | 75% |
| Lee County, MS | 21 mi | $67,863 | $957/mo | 71% |
| Chickasaw County, MS | 21 mi | $43,586 | $670/mo | 70% |
| Calhoun County, MS | 26 mi | $43,125 | $662/mo | 72% |
| Lafayette County, MS | 27 mi | $67,185 | $1,085/mo | 64% |
| Tippah County, MS | 38 mi | $52,542 | $790/mo | 75% |
Towns and communities in Pontotoc County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 31% of Pontotoc County residents live in one of the 6. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $46,167 in Pontotoc to $77,500 in Thaxton. Rent is cheapest in Ecru ($797) and steepest in Algoma ($864). No Pontotoc County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontotoc | city | 5,806 | $46,167 | $803 | 2 mi |
| Ecru | town | 1,550 | $65,000 | $797 | 8 mi |
| Algoma | town | 897 | $58,125 | $864 | 3 mi |
| Thaxton | town | 688 | $77,500 | $820 | 9 mi |
| Randolph | CDP | 613 | $48,029 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Toccopola | town | 280 | $39,083 | $975 | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Pontotoc County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Pontotoc County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Pontotoc County: $4,290
- Housing at the median rent of $864 uses 20%
- Under a 40% cap, $1,716 total minus rent leaves $852
If your rent is above $864, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Pontotoc County
Where the Pontotoc County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 12% of Pontotoc County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Manufactured homes. 29% of Pontotoc County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Pontotoc County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. 12.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Pontotoc County | Mississippi | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.5% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 21.5% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.2% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.2% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Pontotoc County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
Four steps for Pontotoc County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Pontotoc County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Mississippi license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Pontotoc County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Pontotoc County, check the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Mississippi guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Pontotoc County?
$51,484 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $56,447 for Mississippi. It ranks 33rd of 82 in the state.
How much is rent in Pontotoc County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $864 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Pontotoc?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Pontotoc County, such as Ecru, Algoma, Thaxton.
Does living in Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Pontotoc 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.