City · Mississippi
Indianola, Mississippi
Indianola, city, in Sunflower County, Mississippi. Indianola had 8,637 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 8.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,646 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,062 (±28). GEOID 2834740.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,637
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,646 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,062 ±28
Median household income
$41,708
±$7,596 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447
Median home value
$108,800
±$21,596 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800
Median gross rent
$720
±$201 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954
Where is Indianola and what county is it in?
Indianola is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi. It covers 8.6 square miles of land, 1,125 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 Indianola, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 8,637 people lived in Indianola on July 1, 2025, down 8.9% since 2020, a steeper fall than Mississippi's (−0.2%). The 2020 Census counted 9,646 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,062 (±28).
| Measure | Indianola | Sunflower County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,062 ±28 | 24,333 | −388 |
| Households | 3,493 ±218 | 8,034 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.56 ±0.16 | 2.64 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,060 ±211 | 9,423 | no clear change |
Indianola's population since 2000
From 12,066 in 2000 to 8,637 in 2025: down 28.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Indianola 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 Indianola?
The median resident of Indianola is 35.7 years old; 25.7% are under 18 and 16.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 81.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 15.0%.
| Measure | Indianola | Sunflower County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 ±4.5 | 37.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.7% ±3.1 pts | 21.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.6% ±1.8 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Male | 46.2% ±3.7 pts | 52.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.7% ±1.8 pts | 2.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 15.0% ±2.9 pts | 22.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 81.5% ±3.6 pts | 72.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±1.3 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.6% ±1.9 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.1% ±2.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.9% ±2.6 pts | 3.7% | – |
| With a disability | 14.4% ±2.7 pts | 14.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.7% ±3.8 pts | 11.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.2% ±4.3 pts | 75.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.0% ±3.9 pts | 16.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.6% ±3.4 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.8% ±2.8 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
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 Indianola earn?
Half of Indianola's 3,493 households earn less than $41,708 a year (±$7,596), against $39,956 in Sunflower County and $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 it was $35,618 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 30.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Indianola | Sunflower County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,708 ±$7,596 | $39,956 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $53,804 ±$6,942 | $59,047 | – |
| Per capita income | $22,102 ±$2,372 | $21,138 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 30.5% ±7.0 pts | 28.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 42.5% ±12.7 pts | 42.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 33.0% ±8.0 pts | 33.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.1% ±2.2 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 75.3% ±5.2 pts | 74.5% | – |
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 Indianola?
Owners occupy 51.8% of Indianola's occupied homes and renters 48.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $108,800 by its owner (±$21,596). The median renter pays $720 a month including utilities, and 43.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Indianola | Sunflower County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $108,800 ±$21,596 | $100,300 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $720 ±$201 | $694 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.3% ±13.1 pts | 44.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,070 ±$68 | $1,100 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 51.8% ±7.2 pts | 54.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 48.2% ±7.2 pts | 45.1% | – |
| Housing units | 4,060 ±211 | 9,423 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 10.1% ±5.7 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.7% ±5.7 pts | 74.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.0% ±0.8 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.4% ±1.0 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.5% ±3.3 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.2% ±3.8 pts | 8.9% | – |
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 Indianola building?
Builders took permits for 8 new housing units in Indianola in 2025 (8 in single-family houses), 0.9 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 Indianola work and get to work?
81.0% of Indianola's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 21.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 13.1%.
| Measure | Indianola | Sunflower County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.1% ±4.3 pts | 50.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 13.1% ±4.5 pts | 11.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 81.0% ±7.2 pts | 80.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.7% ±5.5 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.2% ±4.3 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.0 min ±3.6 | 20.2 min | +5.8 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 Indianola?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Indianola, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $37,542 (Tract 9504.02) to $80,536 (Tract 9504.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9504.02Sunflower County | 4,508 | $37,542 |
| Tract 9504.01Sunflower County | 3,197 | $80,536 |
| Tract 9506Sunflower County | 2,392 | $43,242 |
| Tract 9503Sunflower County | 2,001 | $44,438 |
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 Indianola) · Census block assignment files
How does Indianola compare with other places in Mississippi?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Indianola is the 3,554th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 46th-most populous of 299 in Mississippi.
Indianola ranks 118th 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 | 46th | 299 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 122nd | 148 |
| Residents per square mile | 36th | 187 |
| Median household income | 118th | 172 |
| Per capita income | 127th | 183 |
| Median home value | 129th | 178 |
| Median gross rent | 119th | 161 |
| Poverty rate | 44th | 160 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 94th | 171 |
| Median age | 116th | 186 |
| Owner-occupied share | 146th | 182 |
| Travel time to work | 128th | 185 |
Indianola's figures with every place in Mississippi (CSV)
Every place in Mississippi, sortable · Compare Indianola 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 Indianola?
17 of the 57 figures for Indianola 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 Indianola 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 Indianola.