City profile · Mississippi · Census ACS 2023

Clarksdale, MS

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Clarksdale - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

14,423
Residents
$35,210
Median income
$84,200
Median home
$842
Median rent (state)

Clarksdale - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Clarksdale lands in the 5th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

5th
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
1st
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Clarksdale, MS

14,423 people live in Clarksdale, Mississippi - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Clarksdale brings in $35,210 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 33.0%. Clarksdale's housing stock carries a median value of $84,200, and the median resident age is 34.6 years. Educational attainment runs 18.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 47.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 62.4°F with 55.9 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Mississippi run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Mississippi scores 87.0 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $842 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Mississippi run around $223, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 62.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

14,423 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Mississippi

Median Household Income

$35,210 /yr

Poverty 33.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Mississippi average

How does Clarksdale compare to other US cities?

Here's how Clarksdale stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 1% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Clarksdale's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Mississippi, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

5thIncome percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Clarksdale's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$84,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Clarksdale $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Clarksdale, MS Clarksdale, MS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Clarksdale, MS-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Clarksdale, MS median $35,210/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Clarksdale, MS's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Clarksdale, MS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 33.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
14,423
Median Income
$35,210
Median Home Value
$84,200
Median Age
34.6
Poverty Rate
33.0%
Labor force participation
47.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.8%

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.4°F
Annual Precipitation
55.9"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
13,500 residents14,000 residents14,500 residents15,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 14,773 residents 13,643 residents ▼ -7.6%
Clarksdale's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 6
2020 9
2021 3
2022 4
2023 1
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.9%
Carpool
11.3%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
11.3%

Based on 4,990 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Mississippi - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$135
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$38
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Mississippi state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Mississippi state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Clarksdale sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.0
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$842/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
62.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Mississippi

Corinth
14,450 people
Natchez
14,207 people
Greenwood
13,983 people
D'Iberville
13,033 people
Byram
12,847 people
Grenada
12,484 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Clarksdale's 14,423 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Belvedere Park, GA
14,422 people
New Cassel, NY
14,414 people
Kemp Mill, MD
14,437 people
Dallas, GA
14,440 people
Scottsbluff, NE
14,406 people
Washington Court House, OH
14,406 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Clarksdale's $35,210 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ruby, AK
$35,208 median income
Fisher, LA
$35,208 median income
Mount Vernon, GA
$35,202 median income
Van Buren, ME
$35,200 median income
Jefferson, SC
$35,227 median income
Dushore, PA
$35,192 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Clarksdale, MS Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Clarksdale, MS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 15.0% 80.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.6% White 15.0% Black or African American 80.8% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 2.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Clarksdale compares to nearby Mississippi cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Clarksdale (this city) 14,423 $35,210
Corinth 14,450 $41,243
Natchez 14,207 $35,613
Greenwood 13,983 $34,659
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MS NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Clarksdale, MS?

What is the population of Clarksdale, MS? +

Clarksdale, MS has a population of 14,423 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Clarksdale, MS? +

Median annual household income in Clarksdale runs $35,210, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Clarksdale? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Clarksdale; the closest available measure is the Mississippi state average, a cost of living index of 87.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Mississippi vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Clarksdale, MS? +

The median home value in Clarksdale is $84,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Clarksdale? +

Clarksdale has an average annual temperature of 62.4°F, 55.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.