Forrest County, Mississippi Income Statistics
Forrest County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Forrest County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Forrest County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,020 | $56,669 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $42,899 | $48,086 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.6% | 7.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.8% | 5.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Forrest County is about 5% lower than in Mississippi. Income has been growing faster in Forrest County (4.8%/yr) than in Mississippi (4.3%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Forrest County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Mississippi average of 7%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Forrest County, Mississippi grew by 63.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,020 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Forrest County
| Metric | Forrest County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.570 | 0.566 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,601 | $56,525 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,799 | $43,645 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.9% | 22.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Forrest County, it is 0.570, about the same as Mississippi's 0.566, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 30% more than women's income in Forrest County, Mississippi. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $413,070 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Forrest County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 28% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2022, and was narrowest at 12% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,762 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Forrest County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.0% | 5.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,602 people are unemployed in Forrest County, Mississippi.
The average commute time in Forrest County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Mississippi.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Forrest County, Mississippi has fallen from 10.0% to 6.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.4% in 2014 and fell as low as 6.2% in 2023.
Forrest County, MS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Forrest County, MS is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 78,271 residents against a local median of 18,894. The measure that sets Forrest County, MS apart most is unemployment: 6.6%, 66% above the local median of 4.0%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 7.3% on unemployment, so Forrest County, MS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Forrest County, MS has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest County, MS | 78,271 | $54,020 #3/6 | 4.8%/yr #2/6 | 6.6% #5/6 | 0.570 #6/6 |
| Lamar County, MS | 65,698 | $70,466 | 3.2%/yr | 4.8% | 0.555 |
| Perry County, MS | 11,449 | $49,525 | 4.6%/yr | 1.9% | 0.551 |
| Stone County, MS | 18,894 | $62,144 | 4.2%/yr | 9.2% | 0.562 |
| Jones County, MS | 66,472 | $52,902 | 4.3%/yr | 4.0% | 0.556 |
| Covington County, MS | 18,148 | $45,024 | 5.0%/yr | 3.5% | 0.559 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Forrest County, Mississippi has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Mississippi, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Forrest County, Mississippi.
How Rich Is Forrest County, Mississippi?
Forrest County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $54,020, about 5% lower than the Mississippi average of $56,669.
Are incomes growing in Forrest County, Mississippi?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Forrest County, Mississippi rose 64%, from $32,971 to $54,020. Over the same years, income here outpaced Mississippi as a whole: +64% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Forrest County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Forrest County, Mississippi was $52,555, up 6% from $49,445 in 2022. The Mississippi median that year was $55,083.
What was the median household income in Forrest County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Forrest County, Mississippi was $42,975. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $54,020.
What is the Gini coefficient in Forrest County, Mississippi?
The Gini coefficient in Forrest County is 0.570. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Forrest County, Mississippi?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Forrest County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 28% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2022, and was narrowest at 12% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,762 since 2009.
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