1st Advantage MortgageIn Tate County, Mississippi, the typical household earns $69,704 a year and the typical rent is $963. 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
- Who lives in Tate County
- Employment and commuting in Tate County
- How much Tate County households make
- Housing costs in Tate County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Tate County
- A Tate County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Tate County
- What the numbers mean for Tate County borrowers
- Checklist for Tate County applicants
- Lender oversight for Tate County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Tate County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Tate County's population at 28,321; only 28 of Mississippi's 82 county-level areas are larger. It covers 405 square miles of land, or about 70 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (2 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Senatobia, with about 8,380 residents, or 30% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Tate County
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; transportation, warehousing and utilities is next with 12%. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Tate County. Long commutes are common here: 32% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Tate County workers | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.9% | -5.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.1% | +4.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | -2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -2.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How much Tate County households make
The median household income in Tate County is $69,704; statewide it is $56,447, so Tate County runs 23% above Mississippi as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Tate County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.3% | -6.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.0% | +3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -0.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Tate County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. Census counts 16.9% of Tate County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.410 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Tate County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Tate County
Renters in Tate County pay a median of $963 a month, in line with Mississippi's $954. 55% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. Home values center on $209,000, or 3.0 years of median income. 76% of Tate County households own their home and 24% rent. Median construction year: 1992.
| Tate County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $963/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $209,000 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.5% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 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). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Tate County's, from 16 to 34 miles away. Income ranges from $32,412 in Quitman County to $85,297 in DeSoto County; 1 of these neighbors top Tate County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tate County | - | $69,704 | $963/mo | 76% |
| DeSoto County, MS | 16 mi | $85,297 | $1,451/mo | 78% |
| Panola County, MS | 20 mi | $45,945 | $874/mo | 71% |
| Tunica County, MS | 24 mi | $39,364 | $977/mo | 40% |
| Marshall County, MS | 26 mi | $53,458 | $868/mo | 79% |
| Lafayette County, MS | 33 mi | $67,185 | $1,085/mo | 64% |
| Quitman County, MS | 34 mi | $32,412 | $672/mo | 65% |
The communities that make up Tate County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 35% of Tate County residents live in one of the 5. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senatobia | city | 8,380 | $54,167 | $895 | 4 mi |
| Coldwater | town | 1,156 | $44,054 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Arkabutla | CDP | 202 | $94,318 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Strayhorn | CDP | 176 | $121,625 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Independence | CDP | 133 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
A Tate County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Tate County's medians:
- $69,704 a year is $5,809 of gross monthly income
- 17% goes to median rent ($963)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,128 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $963, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Tate County
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 11.1%, against 11.0% for Mississippi.
| People and households | Tate County | Mississippi | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.6% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.5% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.0% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Tate County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 22.3% |
| 60+ min | 10.1% |
What the numbers mean for Tate County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Tate County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Vehicle repairs. 32% of Tate 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.
- 55% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Checklist for Tate County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Tate County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Tate County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Tate County
Tate County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Mississippi guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Tate County household make?
About $69,704 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 23% above the Mississippi median.
What do renters pay in Tate County?
$963 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I own my home in Tate County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Senatobia?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Tate County, such as Coldwater, Arkabutla, Strayhorn.
Is the fit check different in Tate County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.