City · Mississippi
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay St. Louis, city, in Hancock County, Mississippi. Bay St. Louis had 10,634 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 14.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,284 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 10,188 (±38). GEOID 2803980.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
10,634
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,284 · ACS 2020-2024: 10,188 ±38
Median household income
$67,442
±$9,646 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447
Median home value
$260,200
±$35,435 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800
Median gross rent
$1,179
±$171 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954
Where is Bay St. Louis and what county is it in?
Bay St. Louis is a city in Hancock County, Mississippi. It covers 14.7 square miles of land, 632 residents per square mile in 2020.
Bay St. Louis is in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bay St. Louis, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 10,634 people lived in Bay St. Louis on July 1, 2025, up 14.5% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. The 2020 Census counted 9,284 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 10,188 (±38).
| Measure | Bay St. Louis | Hancock County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 10,188 ±38 | 46,167 | −2,830 |
| Households | 5,088 ±321 | 20,237 | −907 |
| Average household size | 1.97 ±0.13 | 2.27 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,418 ±403 | 23,715 | −1,772 |
Bay St. Louis's population since 2000
From 8,209 in 2000 to 10,634 in 2025: up 29.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bay St. Louis as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bay St. Louis?
The median resident of Bay St. Louis is 53.3 years old; 13.9% are under 18 and 28.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 75.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 13.7%. 2.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bay St. Louis | Hancock County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 ±2.7 | 46.6 | +8.2 |
| Under 18 years | 13.9% ±2.6 pts | 19.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 28.2% ±4.8 pts | 22.6% | – |
| Male | 48.4% ±2.9 pts | 49.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.6% ±1.9 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 75.6% ±4.0 pts | 83.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 13.7% ±3.3 pts | 7.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±0.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±2.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.5% ±2.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.7% ±1.3 pts | 2.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.5% ±2.2 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.1% ±3.4 pts | 10.2% | – |
| With a disability | 17.5% ±3.1 pts | 20.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.8% ±3.1 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.6% ±3.8 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 38.3% ±5.0 pts | 26.8% | +11.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.8% ±3.9 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.0% ±4.6 pts | 86.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 7.5% ±3.3 pts | 3.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bay St. Louis earn?
Half of Bay St. Louis's 5,088 households earn less than $67,442 a year (±$9,646), against $67,708 in Hancock County and $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 the median was $48,884 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $18,558 after inflation. 14.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bay St. Louis | Hancock County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,442 ±$9,646 | $67,708 | +$18,558 |
| Mean household income | $122,314 ±$30,058 | $94,339 | – |
| Per capita income | $55,519 ±$10,905 | $39,800 | +$23,119 |
| People below the poverty line | 14.5% ±6.0 pts | 13.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 30.0% ±18.8 pts | 16.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.4% ±5.7 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.6% ±2.9 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.1% ±4.6 pts | 86.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bay St. Louis?
Owners occupy 76.7% of Bay St. Louis's occupied homes and renters 23.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $260,200 by its owner (±$35,435). The median renter pays $1,179 a month including utilities, and 39.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bay St. Louis | Hancock County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $260,200 ±$35,435 | $224,200 | +$47,782 |
| Median gross rent | $1,179 ±$171 | $977 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.3% ±16.9 pts | 43.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,692 ±$195 | $1,551 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.7% ±5.5 pts | 79.2% | +8.5 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 23.3% ±5.5 pts | 20.8% | – |
| Housing units | 6,418 ±403 | 23,715 | −1,772 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 10.7% ±8.3 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 81.5% ±4.2 pts | 79.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.0% ±2.2 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.2% ±1.0 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 15.7% ±4.8 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.3% ±2.9 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.3% ±3.5 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bay St. Louis building?
Builders took permits for 62 new housing units in Bay St. Louis in 2025 (62 in single-family houses), 5.8 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Mississippi.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bay St. Louis work and get to work?
74.6% of Bay St. Louis's workers drive alone and 15.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.8%.
| Measure | Bay St. Louis | Hancock County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.6% ±5.5 pts | 57.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.8% ±4.0 pts | 5.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 74.6% ±8.9 pts | 77.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.4% ±2.6 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 1.9% ±1.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.6% ±9.5 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.1 min ±3.5 | 32.5 min | +5.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bay St. Louis?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Bay St. Louis, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $42,619 (Tract 301.02) to $96,377 (Tract 303.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 301.02Hancock County | 3,968 | $42,619 |
| Tract 303.02Hancock County | 2,147 | $96,377 |
| Tract 303.01Hancock County | 2,165 | $122,841 |
| Tract 301.01Hancock County | 1,885 | $82,841 |
| Tract 303.04Hancock County | 1,745 | $46,875 |
| Tract 302.02Hancock County | 1,196 | $84,531 |
| Tract 304Hancock County | 2,001 | $43,823 |
| Tract 306.06Hancock County | 1,534 | $55,685 |
| Tract 9900Hancock County | 0 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bay St. Louis) · Census block assignment files
How does Bay St. Louis compare with other places in Mississippi?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bay St. Louis is the 3,076th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 40th-most populous of 299 in Mississippi.
Bay St. Louis ranks 38th of 172 places in Mississippi with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 40th | 299 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 3rd | 148 |
| Residents per square mile | 87th | 187 |
| Median household income | 38th | 172 |
| Per capita income | 2nd | 183 |
| Median home value | 13th | 178 |
| Median gross rent | 28th | 161 |
| Poverty rate | 134th | 160 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18th | 171 |
| Median age | 5th | 186 |
| Owner-occupied share | 38th | 182 |
| Work from home | 5th | 57 |
| Travel time to work | 51st | 185 |
Bay St. Louis's figures with every place in Mississippi (CSV)
Every place in Mississippi, sortable · Compare Bay St. Louis with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bay St. Louis?
10 of the 57 figures for Bay St. Louis on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bay St. Louis are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Bay St. Louis.