Panola County, Mississippi Income Statistics
Panola 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
Panola County Well below averageLess wealthy than 72% of counties in Mississippi
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Panola County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $46,208 | $56,669 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $40,460 | $48,086 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.9% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.5% | 7.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.9% | 5.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Panola County is about 18% lower than in Mississippi. Income has been growing slower in Panola County (2.9%/yr) than in Mississippi (4.3%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Panola 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 Panola County, Mississippi grew by 30.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $46,208 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Panola County
| Metric | Panola County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.578 | 0.566 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,825 | $56,525 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $38,025 | $43,645 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.0% | 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 Panola County, it is 0.578, higher than Mississippi's 0.566, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 39% more than women's income in Panola County, Mississippi. Over a 35-year career, a 39% wage gap accumulates to roughly $518,000 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Panola County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 29% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2023, and was narrowest at 21% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,603 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Panola County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.6% | 5.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 30 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 884 people are unemployed in Panola County, Mississippi.
The average commute time in Panola County is 30 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Mississippi.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Panola County, Mississippi has fallen from 12.8% to 6.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.9% in 2014.
Panola County, MS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Panola County, MS is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 32,808 residents against a local median of 12,419. Where Panola County, MS breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 34% below the local median of 4.5%/yr at 2.9%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.8%/yr on income growth, so Panola County, MS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Panola County, MS has the 6th highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panola County, MS | 32,808 | $46,208 #4/6 | 2.9%/yr #6/6 | 6.6% #4/6 | 0.578 #5/6 |
| Tate County, MS | 28,321 | $68,865 | 5.8%/yr | 4.7% | 0.551 |
| Quitman County, MS | 5,774 | $33,392 | 4.0%/yr | 12.2% | 0.567 |
| Yalobusha County, MS | 12,419 | $49,079 | 4.5%/yr | 5.8% | 0.545 |
| Lafayette County, MS | 58,327 | $70,279 | 6.1%/yr | 2.1% | 0.624 |
| Tallahatchie County, MS | 11,764 | $38,573 | 3.3%/yr | 10.1% | 0.564 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Panola 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 Panola County, Mississippi.
How Rich Is Panola County, Mississippi?
Panola 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 $46,208, about 18% lower than the Mississippi average of $56,669.
How has median household income changed in Panola County, Mississippi?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Panola County, Mississippi rose 30%, from $35,471 to $46,208. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Mississippi as a whole: +30% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Panola County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Panola County, Mississippi was $44,254, down 9% from $48,749 in 2022. The Mississippi median that year was $55,083.
What was the median household income in Panola County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Panola County, Mississippi was $37,568. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $46,208.
What is the Gini coefficient in Panola County, Mississippi?
The Gini coefficient in Panola County is 0.578. 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 Panola County, Mississippi?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Panola County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 29% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2023, and was narrowest at 21% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,603 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →