Smith County, MS Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Smith County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,037 | 2,949,037 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 23.6 | 60.8 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -1.77% | -0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 43.4 | 36.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 5,397 | 1,131,698 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Smith County declined by 10.7% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 14,193 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Smith County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Smith County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,023 | $55,084 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.71% | 4.47% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Smith County is about 4% lower than in Mississippi.
Housing
| Metric | Smith County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $412,500 | $119,791 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $664 | $923 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.3% | 69.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Smith County is about 51.8 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $664 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Smith County spend about 50 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 209 hours, about 8.7 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Smith County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 25.1 | 21.4 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 50.1 | 42.8 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 209 | 178 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $6,472 | $5,533 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 5.3% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 5,333 | 6,176 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 313 | 914 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Mississippi:
Sharkey County (13.0 min), Coahoma County (13.3 min), Leflore County (13.4 min).
Slowest:
Wilkinson County (35.9 min), Greene County (33.2 min), Stone County (32.7 min).
The average commute time in Smith County is 25 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Mississippi.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Smith County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Smith County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 21.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.60 | 2.52 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Mississippi:
Madison County (0.4), Lafayette County (0.3), Oktibbeha County (0.3).
Lowest:
Issaquena County (0.1), Tallahatchie County (0.2), Greene County (0.2).
Health
Smith County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Smith County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.2 | 74.7 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 22.0% | 23.5% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 21.5% | 22.1% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Mississippi:
Madison County (0.8), Lafayette County (0.8), Oktibbeha County (0.8).
Lowest:
Holmes County (0.7), Quitman County (0.7), Sharkey County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Smith County, Mississippi.
What is the population of Smith County, Mississippi?
The population of Smith County, Mississippi is 15,037, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Smith County, Mississippi?
The population density of Smith County, Mississippi is 23.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Smith County, Mississippi?
The median household income in Smith County, Mississippi is $53,023, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Smith County, Mississippi?
The median home price in Smith County, Mississippi is $412,500, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Smith County, Mississippi?
The unemployment rate in Smith County, Mississippi is 4.4%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.