County · Mississippi
DeSoto County, Mississippi
DeSoto County, Mississippi. DeSoto County had 197,918 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.8% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. It holds 9 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs and 4 census-designated) and 41 census tracts. GEOID 28033.
DeSoto County is one of the 9 counties of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
197,918
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 185,314 · ACS 2020-2024: 191,301
Median household income
$85,297
±$2,588 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447
Median home value
$269,600
±$5,560 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800
Median gross rent
$1,451
±$33 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954
How many people live in DeSoto County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 185,314 residents in DeSoto County. The Census Bureau estimates 197,918 for July 1, 2025, up 6.8% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 191,301 over 476 square miles of land.
| Measure | DeSoto County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 191,301 | 2,946,779 | +12,326 |
| Households | 70,986±670 | 1,145,431 | +8,096 |
| Average household size | 2.68±0.03 | 2.49 | −0.15 |
| Housing units | 75,437±100 | 1,341,114 | +8,269 |
DeSoto County's population since 2000
From 107,199 in 2000 to 197,918 in 2025: up 84.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in DeSoto County?
DeSoto County holds 9 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 4 census-designated places. The largest is Southaven with 57,819 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Southaven | 54,648 | $78,483 |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Branch | 39,711 | $100,606 |
| Horn Lake | 26,736 | $53,311 |
| Hernando | 17,138 | $76,950 |
| LynchburgGEOID 2842840 | 2,466 | $88,750 |
| BridgetownGEOID 2808655 | 2,281 | $139,224 |
| Walls | 1,351 | $58,920 |
| EudoraGEOID 2823340 | 386 | $89,391 |
| LakeviewGEOID 2838910 | 299 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in DeSoto County?
The median resident of DeSoto County is 37.3 years old; 25.0% are under 18 and 13.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 56.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 32.6%. 4.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | DeSoto County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3±0.4 | 38.6 | +0.5 |
| Under 18 years | 25.0% | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.5%±0.1 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.8% | 3.7% | +0.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 56.4%±0.3 pts | 55.2% | −7.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 32.6%±0.5 pts | 36.3% | +5.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.3%±0.2 pts | 1.0% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3%±0.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.0%±0.4 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.2%±0.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.3%±0.7 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 12.6%±0.8 pts | 17.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.3%±0.8 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.7%±0.7 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 29.0%±1.3 pts | 25.1% | +4.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.4%±0.8 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.2%±0.6 pts | 2.1% | – |
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 DeSoto County earn?
Half of DeSoto County's 70,986 households earn less than $85,297 a year (±$2,588), against $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 it was $82,503 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | DeSoto County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $85,297±$2,588 | $56,447 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $101,760±$2,686 | $78,922 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,113±$930 | $31,549 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.7%±1.1 pts | 18.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.4%±2.4 pts | 26.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.5%±1.0 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.1%±0.9 pts | 84.1% | – |
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 DeSoto County?
Owners occupy 77.9% of DeSoto County's occupied homes and renters 22.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $269,600 by its owner (±$5,560). The median renter pays $1,451 a month including utilities, and 41.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | DeSoto County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $269,600±$5,560 | $169,800 | +$62,228 |
| Median gross rent | $1,451±$33 | $954 | +$150 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.5%±4.1 pts | 42.1% | +7.7 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,638±$34 | $1,394 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.9%±1.5 pts | 70.0% | +3.9 pts |
| Housing units | 75,437±100 | 1,341,114 | +8,269 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3%±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 12.8%±2.6 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 83.2%±1.2 pts | 69.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.9%±0.6 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.8%±0.6 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.1%±0.4 pts | 4.0% | – |
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 DeSoto County building?
Builders took permits for 890 new housing units across DeSoto County in 2025 (890 single-family), 4.5 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in DeSoto County get to work?
81.4% of DeSoto County's workers drive alone and 8.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.2%.
| Measure | DeSoto County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.2%±1.0 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2%±0.6 pts | 5.8% | −2.1 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 81.4%±1.3 pts | 81.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.0%±0.9 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.4%±0.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.2%±0.9 pts | 5.9% | +5.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.2 min±0.8 | 25.6 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 are DeSoto County's census tracts?
DeSoto County is divided into 41 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $37,265 (Tract 703.23) to $154,518 (Tract 707.22).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does DeSoto County compare with Mississippi's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 3rd of 82 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 3rd of 82 |
| Residents per square mile | 1st of 82 |
| Median household income | 1st of 82 |
| Median home value | 3rd of 82 |
| Median gross rent | 1st of 81 |
| Poverty rate | 82nd of 82 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8th of 82 |
| Median age | 68th of 82 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 DeSoto County 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' school search.