County · Mississippi
Leake County, Mississippi
Leake County, Mississippi. Leake County had 21,662 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.8% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. It holds 6 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 6 census tracts. GEOID 28079.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
21,662
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 21,275 · ACS 2020-2024: 21,319
Median household income
$50,728
±$4,140 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447
Median home value
$116,800
±$10,113 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800
Median gross rent
$765
±$73 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954
How many people live in Leake County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 21,275 residents in Leake County. The Census Bureau estimates 21,662 for July 1, 2025, up 1.8% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 21,319 over 583 square miles of land.
| Measure | Leake County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 21,319 | 2,946,779 | −1,473 |
| Households | 7,414±263 | 1,145,431 | −691 |
| Average household size | 2.82±0.10 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,078±29 | 1,341,114 | −489 |
Leake County's population since 2000
From 20,940 in 2000 to 21,662 in 2025: up 3.4%. 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 Leake County?
Leake County holds 6 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Carthage with 4,864 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Carthage | 4,901 | $42,254 |
|---|---|---|
| RedwaterGEOID 2861400 | 683 | $63,398 |
| Standing PineGEOID 2870120 | 517 | not published |
| Walnut GroveGEOID 2877520 | 510 | $42,634 |
| LenaGEOID 2840360 | 157 | $96,786 |
| SebastopolGEOID 2866280 | 266 | $52,500 |
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 Leake County?
The median resident of Leake County is 40.3 years old; 23.4% are under 18 and 18.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 46.1%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 38.9%. 2.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Leake County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3±0.9 | 38.6 | +3.4 |
| Under 18 years | 23.4% | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.2%±0.5 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.6% | 3.7% | +2.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 46.1%±0.7 pts | 55.2% | −0.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 38.9%±0.8 pts | 36.3% | −2.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 5.9%±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.2%±1.1 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.7%±1.3 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 10.0%±1.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3%±1.1 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 17.3%±2.0 pts | 17.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 15.5%±2.8 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 81.6%±3.1 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.7%±2.2 pts | 25.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.8%±1.3 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.2%±0.3 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 Leake County earn?
Half of Leake County's 7,414 households earn less than $50,728 a year (±$4,140), against $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 it was $45,654 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Leake County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,728±$4,140 | $56,447 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $66,129±$5,830 | $78,922 | – |
| Per capita income | $26,316±$2,105 | $31,549 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 20.5%±3.5 pts | 18.9% | −5.9 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 32.8%±8.4 pts | 26.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.1%±2.7 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 74.8%±4.7 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 Leake County?
Owners occupy 76.7% of Leake County's occupied homes and renters 23.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $116,800 by its owner (±$10,113). The median renter pays $765 a month including utilities, and 29.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Leake County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $116,800±$10,113 | $169,800 | +$14,283 |
| Median gross rent | $765±$73 | $954 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 29.9%±10.9 pts | 42.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,217±$70 | $1,394 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.7%±4.2 pts | 70.0% | +5.9 pts |
| Housing units | 9,078±29 | 1,341,114 | −489 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.1%±2.5 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.3%±3.8 pts | 69.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 25.1%±3.8 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±0.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.6%±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 Leake County building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units across Leake County in 2025 (0 single-family), 0.0 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 Leake County get to work?
81.7% of Leake County's workers drive alone and 5.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 34.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.2%.
| Measure | Leake County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 51.9%±3.7 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2%±2.6 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 81.7%±3.7 pts | 81.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.7%±3.0 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.2%±1.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.6%±1.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.9%±2.3 pts | 5.9% | +4.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.3 min±3.3 | 25.6 min | +4.9 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 are Leake County's census tracts?
Leake County is divided into 6 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $43,313 (Tract 407) to $65,057 (Tract 401).
| Tract 40128079040100 | 2,721±411 | $65,057 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 404.0128079040401 | 3,484±567 | $51,750 |
| Tract 404.0228079040402 | 2,929±464 | $47,837 |
| Tract 40528079040500 | 2,697±427 | $51,976 |
| Tract 40628079040600 | 5,886±405 | $50,766 |
| Tract 40728079040700 | 3,602±575 | $43,313 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Leake County compare with Mississippi's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 42nd of 82 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 16th of 82 |
| Residents per square mile | 46th of 82 |
| Median household income | 38th of 82 |
| Median home value | 47th of 82 |
| Median gross rent | 44th of 81 |
| Poverty rate | 43rd of 82 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58th of 82 |
| Median age | 33rd 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 Leake 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.