County · Mississippi

Hancock County, Mississippi

Hancock County, Mississippi. Hancock County had 46,873 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.8% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. It holds 5 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 18 census tracts. GEOID 28045.

Hancock County is one of the 4 counties of the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

46,873

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 46,053 · ACS 2020-2024: 46,167

Median household income

$67,708

±$4,805 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447

Median home value

$224,200

±$10,369 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800

Median gross rent

$977

±$56 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954

How many people live in Hancock County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 46,053 residents in Hancock County. The Census Bureau estimates 46,873 for July 1, 2025, up 1.8% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 46,167 over 474 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −124 (45,997)
2021→2022 +43 (46,040)
2022→2023 +126 (46,166)
2023→2024 +344 (46,510)
2024→2025 +363 (46,873)

Hancock County in Mississippi. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Hancock County	Mississippi	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	46,167	2,946,779	−794
Households	20,237±430	1,145,431	no clear change
Average household size	2.27±0.05	2.49	no clear change
Housing units	23,715±31	1,341,114	−1,546

Hancock County's population since 2000

From 42,967 in 2000 to 46,873 in 2025: up 9.1%. 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.

2000 Census 42,967
2005 (estimate) 47,715
2010 Census 43,929
2015 (estimate) 46,360
2020 Census 46,053
2025 (estimate) 46,873

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 Hancock County?

Hancock County holds 5 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Diamondhead with 9,441 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Hancock County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Diamondhead	city	9,529	9,338±43	$87,407	$259,600	7.0%	100%
Bay St. Louis	city	9,284	10,188±38	$67,442	$260,200	14.5%	100%
Waveland	city	7,210	7,062±49	$68,693	$218,900	10.8%	100%
Kiln	CDP	2,224	2,016±513	$71,875	$167,500	18.2%	100%
PearlingtonGEOID 2855920	CDP	1,153	1,278±475	$44,507	$98,100	22.6%	100%

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 Hancock County?

The median resident of Hancock County is 46.6 years old; 19.2% are under 18 and 22.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 7.1%. 2.5% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Hancock County	Mississippi	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	46.6±0.5	38.6	+2.2
Under 18 years	19.2%±0.1 pts	23.3%	–
65 years and over	22.6%±0.2 pts	17.2%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4.2%	3.7%	+0.4 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	83.4%±0.3 pts	55.2%	−1.3 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	7.1%±0.9 pts	36.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.0%±0.2 pts	1.0%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 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%±0.9 pts	3.0%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.5 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	2.5%±0.5 pts	2.4%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.8%±0.7 pts	4.3%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	10.2%±1.2 pts	6.8%	–
With a disability	20.4%±1.9 pts	17.8%	–
No health insurance coverage	9.3%±1.5 pts	11.0%	−3.6 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	88.6%±1.5 pts	87.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	26.8%±2.0 pts	25.1%	+4.8 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	11.2%±1.5 pts	9.9%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	3.7%±1.0 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 Hancock County earn?

Half of Hancock County's 20,237 households earn less than $67,708 a year (±$4,805), against $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 the median was $59,220 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $8,488 after inflation. 13.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Hancock County	Mississippi	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$67,708±$4,805	$56,447	+$8,488
Mean household income	$94,339±$8,062	$78,922	–
Per capita income	$39,800±$2,558	$31,549	+$6,003
People below the poverty line	13.8%±2.4 pts	18.9%	−4.7 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	16.7%±4.9 pts	26.0%	−12.1 pts
Households receiving SNAP	10.5%±2.3 pts	13.5%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.6%±2.7 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 Hancock County?

Owners occupy 79.2% of Hancock County's occupied homes and renters 20.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $224,200 by its owner (±$10,369). The median renter pays $977 a month including utilities, and 43.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Hancock County	Mississippi	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$224,200±$10,369	$169,800	+$42,673
Median gross rent	$977±$56	$954	−$69
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	43.1%±8.3 pts	42.1%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,551±$102	$1,394	–
Owner-occupied homes	79.2%±2.4 pts	70.0%	no clear change
Housing units	23,715±31	1,341,114	−1,546
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.9%±0.7 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.0%±2.7 pts	8.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	79.0%±2.7 pts	69.3%	–
Mobile homes	10.2%±2.1 pts	14.4%	–
Built 2020 or later	2.1%±0.8 pts	1.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	3.8%±1.3 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 Hancock County building?

Builders took permits for 243 new housing units across Hancock County in 2025 (241 single-family), 5.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 660 units
2020 717 units
2021 827 units
2022 174 units
2023 336 units
2024 244 units
2025 243 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Hancock County get to work?

77.5% of Hancock County's workers drive alone and 11.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.0%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Hancock County	Mississippi	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	57.5%±1.8 pts	57.4%	–
Unemployment rate	5.0%±1.5 pts	5.8%	−3.1 pts
Drove alone to work	77.5%±3.6 pts	81.8%	–
Carpooled	8.8%±1.6 pts	9.2%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Walked	0.6%±0.4 pts	1.3%	–
Worked from home	11.4%±3.5 pts	5.9%	+8.0 pts
Mean travel time to work	32.5 min±2.2	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 Hancock County's census tracts?

Hancock County is divided into 18 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $42,619 (Tract 301.02) to $107,443 (Tract 305.02).

Census tracts of Hancock County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 301.0128045030101	Bay St. Louis (94%)	1,974	1,885±363	$82,841	$278,300	$1,201	4.1%
Tract 301.0228045030102	Bay St. Louis	2,824	3,968±558	$42,619	$224,700	$1,189	29.2%
Tract 302.0128045030201	Waveland (45%)	1,522	1,376±237	$87,717	$224,100	$833	4.9%
Tract 302.0228045030202	Waveland (89%)	1,418	1,196±259	$84,531	$349,300	$1,274	4.8%
Tract 302.0328045030203	Waveland	3,199	3,845±487	$69,344	$190,100	$874	7.5%
Tract 303.0128045030301	Bay St. Louis (86%)	2,162	2,165±426	$122,841	$293,800	$938	6.8%
Tract 303.0228045030302	Bay St. Louis (98%)	2,182	2,147±488	$96,377	$260,700	$1,388	4.5%
Tract 303.0328045030303	–	3,447	2,941±653	$51,113	$103,700	$1,105	16.4%
Tract 303.0428045030304	Waveland (69%)	1,972	1,745±336	$46,875	$151,000	$951	29.3%
Tract 30428045030400	Pearlington (35%)	1,989	2,001±479	$43,823	$98,100	$822	25.9%
Tract 305.0128045030501	Diamondhead (80%)	3,020	2,558±300	$64,795	$233,900	$976	9.5%
Tract 305.0228045030502	Diamondhead	2,381	2,222±281	$107,443	$291,600	$1,673	5.3%
Tract 305.0328045030503	Diamondhead (97%)	4,172	4,571±415	$95,032	$257,300	$1,691	6.5%
Tract 306.0328045030603	–	2,634	2,359±300	$60,303	$158,800	not published	23.4%
Tract 306.0428045030604	–	4,887	5,917±1,037	$68,711	$224,400	$698	14.8%
Tract 306.0528045030605	Kiln (19%)	4,279	3,737±685	$69,492	$168,500	$742	17.8%
Tract 306.0628045030606	Kiln (10%)	1,991	1,534±336	$55,685	$233,300	$1,364	14.3%
Tract 990028045990000	Bay St. Louis (25%)	0	0±14	not published	not published	not published	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Hancock County compare with Mississippi's other counties?

Hancock County's rank among Mississippi's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	16th of 82
Growth 2020-2025	17th of 82
Residents per square mile	14th of 82
Median household income	7th of 82
Median home value	7th of 82
Median gross rent	9th of 81
Poverty rate	78th of 82
Bachelor's degree or higher	14th of 82
Median age	4th of 82

Every county in Mississippi

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 Hancock 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.