County · Mississippi
Perry County, Mississippi
Perry County, Mississippi. Perry County had 11,577 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.6% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. It holds 4 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 28111.
Perry County is one of the 3 counties of the Hattiesburg, MS metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
11,577
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,511 · ACS 2020-2024: 11,449
Median household income
$49,634
±$7,736 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447
Median home value
$124,000
±$31,491 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800
Median gross rent
$755
±$210 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954
How many people live in Perry County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 11,511 residents in Perry County. The Census Bureau estimates 11,577 for July 1, 2025, up 0.6% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 11,449 over 647 square miles of land.
| Measure | Perry County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 11,449 | 2,946,779 | −557 |
| Households | 4,647±197 | 1,145,431 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.44±0.10 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,498±25 | 1,341,114 | −160 |
Perry County's population since 2000
From 12,138 in 2000 to 11,577 in 2025: down 4.6%. 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 Perry County?
Perry County holds 4 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Richton with 946 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Richton | 920 | $35,057 |
|---|---|---|
| BeaumontGEOID 2804500 | 669 | $80,224 |
| New Augusta | 554 | $26,620 |
| RunnelstownGEOID 2864240 | 320 | 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 Perry County?
The median resident of Perry County is 43.4 years old; 21.9% are under 18 and 19.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 15.4%.
| Measure | Perry County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4±0.7 | 38.6 | +1.5 |
| Under 18 years | 21.9%±0.3 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.5%±0.2 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.9% | 3.7% | +0.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.3%±0.1 pts | 55.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 15.4%±2.1 pts | 36.3% | −4.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.1%±1.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.2%±1.2 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.4%±1.6 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.2%±1.9 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5%±1.6 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 27.0%±2.8 pts | 17.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 15.8%±3.1 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.9%±2.3 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.9%±2.6 pts | 25.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.3%±1.7 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0%±0.8 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 Perry County earn?
Half of Perry County's 4,647 households earn less than $49,634 a year (±$7,736), against $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 it was $52,266 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Perry County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,634±$7,736 | $56,447 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $62,655±$4,799 | $78,922 | – |
| Per capita income | $27,110±$1,849 | $31,549 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 18.4%±3.4 pts | 18.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 26.2%±8.3 pts | 26.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.9%±2.6 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 76.2%±4.6 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 Perry County?
Owners occupy 81.5% of Perry County's occupied homes and renters 18.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $124,000 by its owner (±$31,491). The median renter pays $755 a month including utilities, and 49.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Perry County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $124,000±$31,491 | $169,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $755±$210 | $954 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 49.6%±16.8 pts | 42.1% | +22.8 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,382±$173 | $1,394 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 81.5%±4.0 pts | 70.0% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,498±25 | 1,341,114 | −160 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.2%±3.0 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 62.4%±4.7 pts | 69.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 29.4%±4.3 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.2%±2.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.4%±1.9 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 Perry County building?
Builders took permits for 4 new housing units across Perry County in 2025 (4 single-family), 0.3 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 Perry County get to work?
79.4% of Perry County's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 29.1 minutes.
| Measure | Perry County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 49.9%±2.8 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.0%±1.4 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 79.4%±5.1 pts | 81.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.7%±4.6 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.4%±1.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.9%±2.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 1.5%±1.2 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.1 min±3.7 | 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 Perry County's census tracts?
Perry County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $44,631 (Tract 9501.02) to $52,850 (Tract 9501.01).
| Tract 9501.0128111950101 | 4,060±455 | $52,850 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9501.0228111950102 | 4,372±515 | $44,631 |
| Tract 950228111950200 | 3,017±413 | $51,750 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Perry County compare with Mississippi's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 65th of 82 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 23rd of 82 |
| Residents per square mile | 72nd of 82 |
| Median household income | 41st of 82 |
| Median home value | 38th of 82 |
| Median gross rent | 47th of 81 |
| Poverty rate | 54th of 82 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70th of 82 |
| Median age | 8th 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 Perry 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.