1st Advantage MortgageStone County households have a median income of $61,413 and median rent of $936 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Stone County at a glance
- What Stone County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Stone County
- How Stone County residents earn a living
- Stone County towns compared
- Stone County and the counties next door
- What a median Stone County budget can carry
- Reading the Stone County data as a borrower
- Stone County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Stone County
- Checklist for Stone County applicants
- More guides for Stone County
- Frequently asked questions
Stone County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Stone County's population at 18,894; only 46 of Mississippi's 82 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 445 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 42 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 2 Census places inside Stone County, Wiggins leads by population with about 4,293; 1 of the 2 are incorporated.
What Stone County households earn
The median household income in Stone County is $61,413; statewide it is $56,447, so Stone County runs 9% above Mississippi as a whole.
| Households earning | Stone County | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | -5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.4% | +3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -2.5 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.9%, 2 points lower than the state's 18.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.395 (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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Stone County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $936 in Stone County versus $954 statewide. By the Census definition, 49% of Stone County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $161,100, a typical Stone County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 81% of Stone County households own their home and 19% rent.
| Stone County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $936/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $161,100 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.3% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 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).
How Stone County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Stone County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by retail trade (15%). The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 15% locally and 11% for Mississippi. Averaged over the five survey years, 9.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 27% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. 6.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Stone County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.0% | -6.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.2% | +3.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.1% | +3.3 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +3.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Stone County towns compared
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Stone County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 4,929 people, so roughly 74% of residents live outside any named place. No Stone County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiggins | city | 4,293 | $49,870 | $883 | 5 mi |
| Bond | CDP | 636 | $49,385 | n/a | 8 mi |
Stone County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Stone County's, from 26 to 35 miles away. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Stone County; Hancock County is highest at $67,708 and Perry County lowest at $49,634.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone County | - | $61,413 | $936/mo | 81% |
| Harrison County, MS | 26 mi | $59,479 | $1,115/mo | 62% |
| Perry County, MS | 27 mi | $49,634 | $755/mo | 82% |
| Pearl River County, MS | 28 mi | $58,135 | $906/mo | 80% |
| George County, MS | 28 mi | $59,758 | $844/mo | 82% |
| Forrest County, MS | 29 mi | $53,640 | $972/mo | 57% |
| Hancock County, MS | 35 mi | $67,708 | $977/mo | 79% |
What a median Stone County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Stone County's medians:
- $5,118 a month: gross income for a household at the Stone County median
- Less median rent of $936, which is 18% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $906 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,265: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Stone County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Stone County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Stone County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 13% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 27% of Stone County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 21% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Stone County households compared
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. 12.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Stone County | Mississippi | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.2% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.8% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.9% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.3% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.7% |
| 60+ min | 11.6% |
Licensing and complaints for Stone County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Stone County resident can confirm its license with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Mississippi state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Stone County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Stone County
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Stone County earn?
The median is $61,413; 28% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Stone County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $936 against $954 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Stone County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Wiggins, Bond.
Will a Stone County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Mississippi as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Stone County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Mississippi it is the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance.