1st Advantage MortgageSunflower County (24,333 residents) has a $39,956 median household income and $694 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. 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
- Getting oriented in Sunflower County
- Sunflower County income bands
- Where Sunflower County households live
- Where Sunflower County works
- Sunflower County at the extremes
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Sunflower County
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Who lives in Sunflower County, in numbers
- Budget math at the Sunflower County median
- Borrowing situations common in Sunflower County
- Checklist for Sunflower County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
- Other Mississippi guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Sunflower County
Sunflower County is home to about 24,333 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 38th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Spread over 698 square miles, that works out to roughly 34.9 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sunflower County is not part of any metropolitan area. Indianola is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 9,062 people (37% of the county total).
Sunflower County income bands
Median household income in Sunflower County: $39,956 (29% below Mississippi, $56,447).
| Household income | Sunflower County | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 44.2% | +11.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.8% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.9% | -6.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.1% | -3.7 pts |
44% under $35,000 and 16% at $100,000 or more: that is the Sunflower County income split. The poverty rate is 28.9%, 10 points higher than the state's 18.9%. None of these numbers decides a Sunflower County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Where Sunflower County households live
Sunflower County rent at the median: $694 a month, utilities in ($954 in Mississippi). About 6 in 10 Sunflower County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. With a median value of $100,300, a typical Sunflower County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 55% of homes. Median construction year: 1977. Nationally, Sunflower County's $694 rent is 21% below the middle county.
| Measure | Sunflower County | Mississippi | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $694/mo | $954/mo | 27% lower |
| Median home value | $100,300 | $169,800 | 41% lower |
| Owners | 55% | 70% | -15.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 51% | +8.2 pts |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 26% | -3.9 pts |
| Mobile homes | 5.2% | 14.4% | -9.2 pts |
| Vacant units | 15% | 15% | +0.1 pts |
With renters making up 45% of households, many Sunflower County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more. 59% of Sunflower County renters are already past the 30% line; one more payment should leave room for a late paycheck.
Where Sunflower County works
Education and health care employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 15%. Relative to Mississippi (25%), education and health care is 5 points bigger in Sunflower County (30%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 11.2% in Sunflower County. 48% of Sunflower County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 8% need 45 or more. 8.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Sunflower County workers | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.0% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.8% | +3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.7% | -2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | -0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 6.5% | +1.4 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Sunflower County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Sunflower County at the extremes
The 3 Sunflower County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Mississippi, and what each means for a borrower:
- On the share of mobile homes, Sunflower County sits near the bottom of Mississippi at 5.2%, 4th lowest of 82. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
- Sunflower County ranks 4th lowest of 82 Mississippi counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 8%, against 14% statewide. Short commutes keep vehicle costs down, which can free up room for savings.
- On homeownership, Sunflower County sits near the bottom of Mississippi at 55%, 5th lowest of 82. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Sunflower County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 77% of Sunflower County residents live in one of the 8. Incomes vary by place: $58,250 at the median in Inverness, $19,951 in Sunflower. Live in one of these Sunflower County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianola | city | 9,062 | $41,708 | $720 | 11 mi |
| Ruleville | city | 2,632 | $33,480 | $694 | 9 mi |
| Drew | city | 2,132 | $23,973 | $704 | 15 mi |
| Shaw | city | 1,508 | $30,469 | $556 | 10 mi |
| Moorhead | city | 1,439 | $34,625 | $636 | 12 mi |
| Sunflower | town | 976 | $19,951 | $434 | 5 mi |
| Inverness | town | 740 | $58,250 | $580 | 17 mi |
| Doddsville | town | 260 | $24,273 | n/a | 6 mi |
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Leflore County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Desha County, is 40 miles off. Income ranges from $33,731 in Humphreys County to $42,165 in Washington County; 1 of these neighbors top Sunflower County's median. The list crosses into Arkansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower County | - | $39,956 | $694/mo | 55% |
| Leflore County, MS | 18 mi | $35,277 | $689/mo | 52% |
| Bolivar County, MS | 21 mi | $39,585 | $685/mo | 63% |
| Washington County, MS | 31 mi | $42,165 | $833/mo | 60% |
| Humphreys County, MS | 33 mi | $33,731 | $641/mo | 62% |
| Tallahatchie County, MS | 34 mi | $37,466 | $732/mo | 65% |
| Desha County, AR | 40 mi | $37,662 | $718/mo | 57% |
Who lives in Sunflower County, in numbers
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. Uninsured, Sunflower County: 11.4%; Mississippi: 11.0%.
| Measure | Sunflower County | Gap to Mississippi | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| No high school diploma | 24.5% | +11.7 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 28.9% | +10.0 pts | +15.7 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.0% | -9.1 pts | -6.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 11.2% | +5.5 pts | +6.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 8.9% | +2.6 pts | +3.5 pts |
| Median age | 37.1 | -1.5 yrs | -4.4 yrs |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | +0.4 pts | +3.6 pts |
| Work from home | 5.6% | -0.3 pts | -3.1 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Budget math at the Sunflower County median
How much room does a median Sunflower County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $3,330 gross per month ($39,956 / 12)
- 21% goes to median rent ($694)
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $638 left for all other debt payments
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Sunflower County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Borrowing situations common in Sunflower County
Based on the Sunflower County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Care without coverage. About 2,779 Sunflower County residents lack insurance; check charity care before a loan (how).
- Free help first. 29% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Rent at $694. With 59% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
Checklist for Sunflower County applicants
A short checklist for Sunflower County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Mississippi.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in Mississippi
Before sharing details with a lender, a Sunflower County resident can confirm its license with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Mississippi guide covers state rules in more detail.
Other Mississippi guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is $39,956 a good income in Sunflower County?
It is the county median, so half of Sunflower County households earn more and half less; 16% earn $100,000 or more.
Can a Sunflower County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $694 median rent and $3,330 median monthly income, rent alone uses 21%; add other debts before a new payment.
I live in a small Sunflower County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Indianola, Ruleville, Drew, Shaw, Moorhead and 3 more.
Will a Sunflower County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Mississippi as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Sunflower County?
Look it up with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.