Prentiss County, Mississippi Income Statistics
Prentiss 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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D
Prentiss County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Prentiss County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $49,651 | $56,669 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,459 | $48,086 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.1% | 7.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.2% | 5.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Prentiss County is about 12% lower than in Mississippi. Income has been growing faster in Prentiss County (5.2%/yr) than in Mississippi (4.3%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Prentiss 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 Prentiss County, Mississippi grew by 68.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $49,651 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Prentiss County
| Metric | Prentiss County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.557 | 0.566 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $49,049 | $56,525 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,927 | $43,645 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.5% | 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 Prentiss County, it is 0.557, lower than Mississippi's 0.566, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 14% more than women's income in Prentiss County, Mississippi. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $214,270 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Prentiss County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 19% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2016, and was narrowest at 10% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $167 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Prentiss County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 2.6% | 5.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 379 people are unemployed in Prentiss County, Mississippi.
The average commute time in Prentiss County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Mississippi.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Prentiss County, Mississippi has fallen from 9.2% to 3.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.0% in 2013.
Prentiss County, MS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Prentiss County, MS is typical in size for this group, 25,184 residents against a local median of 24,036, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Prentiss County, MS's unemployment, at 3.5%, runs 31% below the 5.0% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.4% on unemployment, so Prentiss County, MS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Prentiss 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prentiss County, MS | 25,184 | $49,651 #6/6 | 5.2%/yr #3/6 | 3.5% #2/6 | 0.557 #6/6 |
| Alcorn County, MS | 34,289 | $51,100 | 3.6%/yr | 4.6% | 0.533 |
| Tishomingo County, MS | 18,660 | $52,232 | 5.1%/yr | 3.2% | 0.532 |
| Lee County, MS | 83,034 | $68,266 | 5.9%/yr | 5.0% | 0.546 |
| Itawamba County, MS | 24,036 | $57,203 | 6.2%/yr | 5.1% | 0.543 |
| Tippah County, MS | 21,523 | $53,704 | 5.0%/yr | 5.5% | 0.531 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Prentiss 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 Prentiss County, Mississippi.
How Rich Is Prentiss County, Mississippi?
Prentiss 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 $49,651, about 12% lower than the Mississippi average of $56,669.
Are incomes growing in Prentiss County, Mississippi?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Prentiss County, Mississippi rose 69%, from $29,438 to $49,651. Over the same years, income here outpaced Mississippi as a whole: +69% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Prentiss County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Prentiss County, Mississippi was $52,248, up 3% from $50,941 in 2022. The Mississippi median that year was $55,083.
What was the median household income in Prentiss County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Prentiss County, Mississippi was $40,133. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $49,651.
Is it hard to find a job in Prentiss County, Mississippi?
Unemployment in Prentiss County, Mississippi is only 3.5%, well below the Mississippi rate of 5.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Prentiss County, Mississippi?
The Gini coefficient in Prentiss County is 0.557. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Prentiss County, Mississippi?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Prentiss County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 19% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2016, and was narrowest at 10% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $167 since 2009.
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