Hancock County, Mississippi Income Statistics
Hancock 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.
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C
Hancock County Below averageWealthier than 93% of counties in Mississippi
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Hancock County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,178 | $56,669 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,703 | $48,086 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.1% | 7.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.5% | 5.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Hancock County is about 20% higher than in Mississippi. Income has been growing faster in Hancock County (5.1%/yr) than in Mississippi (4.3%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Hancock County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Mississippi average of 7%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Hancock County, Mississippi grew by 55.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $68,178 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Hancock County
| Metric | Hancock County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.534 | 0.566 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $69,994 | $56,525 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,465 | $43,645 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 29.3% | 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 Hancock County, it is 0.534, lower than Mississippi's 0.566, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 42% more than women's income in Hancock County, Mississippi. Over a 35-year career, a 42% wage gap accumulates to roughly $718,515 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hancock County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 30% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 39% in 2012, and was narrowest at 27% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,251 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Hancock County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.4% | 5.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 30 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,094 people are unemployed in Hancock County, Mississippi.
The average commute time in Hancock County is 30 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Mississippi.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Hancock County, Mississippi has fallen from 11.0% to 5.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.1% in 2014.
Hancock County, MS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Hancock County, MS is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 46,167 residents against a local median of 57,458. The measure that sets Hancock County, MS apart most is unemployment: 5.0%, 26% below the local median of 6.7%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.1%/yr against a local median of 4.1%/yr, 23% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Hancock County, MS is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 4.5% on unemployment, so Hancock County, MS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Hancock County, MS has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County, MS | 46,167 | $68,178 #2/6 | 5.1%/yr #1/6 | 5.0% #2/6 | 0.534 #1/6 |
| Pearl River County, MS | 57,458 | $58,730 | 4.2%/yr | 6.1% | 0.573 |
| Harrison County, MS | 210,887 | $59,588 | 4.1%/yr | 6.7% | 0.547 |
| St. Tammany Parish, LA | 272,409 | $82,063 | 3.2%/yr | 4.7% | 0.550 |
| St. Bernard Parish, LA | 44,403 | $58,829 | 3.8%/yr | 7.6% | 0.566 |
| Stone County, MS | 18,894 | $62,144 | 4.2%/yr | 9.2% | 0.562 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Hancock County, Mississippi has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than Mississippi, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Hancock County, Mississippi.
How Rich Is Hancock County, Mississippi?
Hancock County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $68,178, about 20% higher than the Mississippi average of $56,669.
How fast is household income rising in Hancock County, Mississippi?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Hancock County, Mississippi rose 56%, from $43,771 to $68,178. Over the same years, income here outpaced Mississippi as a whole: +56% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Hancock County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Hancock County, Mississippi was $68,517, up 5% from $65,017 in 2022. The Mississippi median that year was $55,083.
What was the median household income in Hancock County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Hancock County, Mississippi was $54,557. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $68,178.
What is the Gini coefficient in Hancock County, Mississippi?
The Gini coefficient in Hancock County is 0.534. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Hancock County, Mississippi?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hancock County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 30% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 39% in 2012, and was narrowest at 27% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,251 since 2009.
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