City · Mississippi
Carthage, Mississippi
Carthage, city, in Leake County, Mississippi. Carthage had 4,864 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,901 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,866 (±17). GEOID 2811780.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,864
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,901 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,866 ±17
Median household income
$42,254
±$14,824 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447
Median home value
$154,800
±$21,863 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800
Median gross rent
$705
±$487 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954
Where is Carthage and what county is it in?
Carthage is a city in Leake County, Mississippi. It covers 9.3 square miles of land, 527 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Carthage, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,864 people lived in Carthage on July 1, 2025, down 0.7% since 2020, in line with Mississippi (−0.2%). The 2020 Census counted 4,901 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,866 (±17).
| Measure | Carthage | Leake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,866 ±17 | 21,319 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,458 ±149 | 7,414 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.08 ±0.32 | 2.82 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,565 ±170 | 9,078 | no clear change |
Carthage's population since 2000
From 4,637 in 2000 to 4,864 in 2025: up 4.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Carthage 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 Carthage?
The median resident of Carthage is 35.6 years old; 27.2% are under 18 and 20.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 44.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 32.6%.
| Measure | Carthage | Leake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 ±3.7 | 40.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.2% ±4.8 pts | 23.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.7% ±4.7 pts | 18.2% | – |
| Male | 46.1% ±4.9 pts | 47.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 22.0% ±5.4 pts | 6.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 32.6% ±5.5 pts | 46.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 44.5% ±5.5 pts | 38.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.6 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.9% ±6.5 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.3% ±6.6 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.4% ±3.7 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 13.2% ±4.0 pts | 17.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 26.1% ±9.4 pts | 15.5% | +12.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.9% ±4.9 pts | 81.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.6% ±6.1 pts | 15.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.0% ±4.7 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.5% ±6.3 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.2% | – |
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 Carthage earn?
Half of Carthage's 1,458 households earn less than $42,254 a year (±$14,824), against $50,728 in Leake County and $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 it was $50,285 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 29.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Carthage | Leake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $42,254 ±$14,824 | $50,728 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $53,928 ±$9,131 | $66,129 | – |
| Per capita income | $21,644 ±$3,331 | $26,316 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 29.7% ±11.1 pts | 20.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 50.5% ±18.4 pts | 32.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.1% ±6.0 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 79.1% ±8.3 pts | 88.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 74.3% ±8.8 pts | 74.8% | – |
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 Carthage?
Owners occupy 65.4% of Carthage's occupied homes and renters 34.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $154,800 by its owner (±$21,863).
| Measure | Carthage | Leake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $154,800 ±$21,863 | $116,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $705 ±$487 | $765 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.1% ±23.4 pts | 29.9% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,154 ±$156 | $1,217 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.4% ±9.7 pts | 76.7% | +13.2 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.6% ±9.7 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Housing units | 1,565 ±170 | 9,078 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.7% ±5.8 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 81.0% ±6.4 pts | 69.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% ±3.1 pts | 25.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.3% ±4.8 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.9% ±3.3 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 21.1% ±8.5 pts | 8.7% | – |
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 Carthage building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Carthage in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 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 Carthage work and get to work?
62.4% of Carthage's workers drive alone and 23.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.6 minutes.
| Measure | Carthage | Leake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 47.6% ±7.5 pts | 51.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.8% ±5.8 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 62.4% ±9.5 pts | 81.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.2% ±6.9 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.8% ±5.8 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.9% ±2.3 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 23.1% ±9.8 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.6 min ±7.5 | 34.3 min | no clear change |
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 Carthage?
1 census tract lies mostly in Carthage (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 406Leake County | 5,886 | $50,766 |
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 Carthage) · Census block assignment files
How does Carthage compare with other places in Mississippi?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Carthage is the 4,971st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 63rd-most populous of 299 in Mississippi.
Carthage ranks 112th 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 | 63rd | 299 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 56th | 148 |
| Residents per square mile | 106th | 187 |
| Median household income | 112th | 172 |
| Per capita income | 136th | 183 |
| Median home value | 77th | 178 |
| Poverty rate | 47th | 160 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 101st | 171 |
| Median age | 119th | 186 |
| Owner-occupied share | 82nd | 182 |
| Work from home | 1st | 57 |
| Travel time to work | 38th | 185 |
Carthage's figures with every place in Mississippi (CSV)
Every place in Mississippi, sortable · Compare Carthage 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 Carthage?
19 of the 57 figures for Carthage 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 Carthage 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 Carthage.