1st Advantage MortgageIn Sharkey County, Mississippi, the typical household earns $40,000 a year and the typical rent is $623. 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
- Sharkey County at a glance
- What Sharkey County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Sharkey County
- What it costs to live in Sharkey County
- Towns and communities in Sharkey County
- The counties around Sharkey County
- More Sharkey County figures
- Before borrowing in Sharkey County
- What a median Sharkey County budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
- Four steps for Sharkey County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Sharkey County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Sharkey County's population at 3,872; only 80 of Mississippi's 82 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 432 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 9 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Rolling Fork is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 2,038 people (53% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Sharkey County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What Sharkey County households earn
Sharkey County households have a median income of $40,000 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 64th of 82 in Mississippi.
| Income band | Share in Sharkey County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 46.9% | +14.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.1% | -4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.6% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.5% | -3.3 pts |
About 47% of households earn under $35,000, while 16% clear $100,000. 30.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.484 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Sharkey County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Sharkey County residents work in education and health care and 17% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 14% locally and 2% for Mississippi. The survey's unemployment rate for Sharkey County averages 9.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Sharkey County workers | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.9% | +5.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.3% | +12.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.1% | +1.7 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Sharkey County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Sharkey County
A typical Sharkey County rental runs $623 a month including utilities, which is 35% below Mississippi. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $98,000, about 2.5 times the median household income. Owners occupy 67% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1977.
| Sharkey County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $623/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $98,000 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.6% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 15% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Sharkey County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Sharkey County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 3,150 people, so roughly 19% of residents live outside any named place. No Sharkey County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolling Fork | city | 2,038 | $45,587 | $548 | 3 mi |
| Anguilla | town | 654 | $29,531 | $598 | 5 mi |
| Cary | town | 330 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Panther Burn | CDP | 128 | $67,344 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Delta City | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Nitta Yuma | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
The counties around Sharkey County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Sharkey County's, from 14 to 37 miles away. Income ranges from $31,429 in Issaquena County to $49,134 in West Carroll Parish; 2 of these neighbors top Sharkey County's median. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharkey County | - | $40,000 | $623/mo | 67% |
| Issaquena County, MS | 14 mi | $31,429 | $339/mo | 66% |
| Humphreys County, MS | 24 mi | $33,731 | $641/mo | 62% |
| East Carroll Parish, LA | 26 mi | $33,341 | $652/mo | 58% |
| Yazoo County, MS | 27 mi | $39,295 | $790/mo | 55% |
| Washington County, MS | 27 mi | $42,165 | $833/mo | 60% |
| West Carroll Parish, LA | 37 mi | $49,134 | $740/mo | 76% |
More Sharkey County figures
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. About 17% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Sharkey County | Mississippi | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.1% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.9% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.9% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.0% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 1.9% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 30.9% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.1% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Sharkey County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 60.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 11.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 3.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 17.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
Before borrowing in Sharkey County
Based on the Sharkey County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 17% of Sharkey County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Commuter costs. 24% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 24% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 31% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
What a median Sharkey County budget can carry
Sharkey County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $3,333 a month: gross income for a household at the Sharkey County median
- 19% goes to median rent ($623)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $577 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance is the place to verify any lender's Mississippi license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Mississippi guide.
Four steps for Sharkey County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Mississippi license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Sharkey County earn?
The median is $40,000; 16% earn $100,000 or more and 47% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Sharkey County rent compare with Mississippi?
$623 locally versus $954 for the state, 35% below.
I live in a small Sharkey County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Rolling Fork, Anguilla, Cary, Panther Burn, Delta City and 1 more.
Are Sharkey County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Sharkey 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.