County · Mississippi
Kemper County, Mississippi
Kemper County, Mississippi. Kemper County had 8,600 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than Mississippi's (−0.2%). It holds 4 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 28069.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,600
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,988 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,729
Median household income
$46,431
±$5,352 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447
Median home value
$99,600
±$21,335 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800
Median gross rent
$677
±$284 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954
How many people live in Kemper County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,988 residents in Kemper County. The Census Bureau estimates 8,600 for July 1, 2025, down 4.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than Mississippi's (−0.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 8,729 over 766 square miles of land.
| Measure | Kemper County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,729 | 2,946,779 | −1,214 |
| Households | 3,223±177 | 1,145,431 | −388 |
| Average household size | 2.47±0.14 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,948±22 | 1,341,114 | −818 |
Kemper County's population since 2000
From 10,453 in 2000 to 8,600 in 2025: down 17.7%. 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 Kemper County?
Kemper County holds 4 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is De Kalb with 834 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| De Kalb | 877 | $47,500 |
|---|---|---|
| ScoobaGEOID 2866160 | 744 | not published |
| Bogue Chitto (Kemper and Neshoba Counties)GEOID 2807330 | 864 | not published |
| PortervilleGEOID 2859520 | 34 | 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 Kemper County?
The median resident of Kemper County is 40.6 years old; 18.4% are under 18 and 22.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 59.4%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 33.2%.
| Measure | Kemper County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6±1.9 | 38.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.4%±0.6 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.1%±0.3 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.2%±0.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 33.2%±0.5 pts | 55.2% | −0.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 59.4%±1.7 pts | 36.3% | −2.3 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 2.7%±0.9 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4%±1.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.5%±0.5 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.0%±1.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5%±2.0 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 20.1%±3.0 pts | 17.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 15.4%±3.8 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.3%±3.4 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.6%±3.9 pts | 25.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.1%±3.1 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.6%±2.7 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 Kemper County earn?
Half of Kemper County's 3,223 households earn less than $46,431 a year (±$5,352), against $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 it was $38,278 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 24.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Kemper County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $46,431±$5,352 | $56,447 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $59,763±$6,118 | $78,922 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,498±$1,875 | $31,549 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 24.8%±4.9 pts | 18.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 40.9%±12.4 pts | 26.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.2%±3.7 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 75.9%±6.6 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 Kemper County?
Owners occupy 79.0% of Kemper County's occupied homes and renters 21.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $99,600 by its owner (±$21,335). The median renter pays $677 a month including utilities, and 30.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Kemper County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $99,600±$21,335 | $169,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $677±$284 | $954 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.8%±17.4 pts | 42.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,251±$142 | $1,394 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 79.0%±5.4 pts | 70.0% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,948±22 | 1,341,114 | −818 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.5%±2.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.0%±2.4 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.7%±5.6 pts | 69.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 21.9%±5.0 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8%±1.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.2%±2.5 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 do people in Kemper County get to work?
83.5% of Kemper County's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 31.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 10.8%.
| Measure | Kemper County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.4%±4.1 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 10.8%±4.6 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 83.5%±5.4 pts | 81.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.8%±4.2 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3%±1.7 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.6%±1.5 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 0.8%±1.0 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.2 min±2.9 | 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 Kemper County's census tracts?
Kemper County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $41,469 (Tract 301) to $51,467 (Tract 302).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Kemper County compare with Mississippi's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 72nd of 82 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 59th of 82 |
| Residents per square mile | 80th of 82 |
| Median household income | 50th of 82 |
| Median home value | 68th of 82 |
| Median gross rent | 62nd of 81 |
| Poverty rate | 25th of 82 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37th of 82 |
| Median age | 30th 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 Kemper 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.