County · Mississippi
Prentiss County, Mississippi
Prentiss County, Mississippi. Prentiss County had 25,284 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.1% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. It holds 6 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 28117.
Prentiss County is one of the 3 counties of the Tupelo, MS micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
25,284
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 25,008 · ACS 2020-2024: 25,184
Median household income
$49,724
±$4,350 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447
Median home value
$122,500
±$11,115 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800
Median gross rent
$637
±$38 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954
How many people live in Prentiss County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 25,008 residents in Prentiss County. The Census Bureau estimates 25,284 for July 1, 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 25,184 over 415 square miles of land.
| Measure | Prentiss County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 25,184 | 2,946,779 | −71 |
| Households | 9,595±272 | 1,145,431 | +450 |
| Average household size | 2.51±0.07 | 2.49 | −0.13 |
| Housing units | 11,050±25 | 1,341,114 | −156 |
Prentiss County's population since 2000
From 25,556 in 2000 to 25,284 in 2025: down 1.1%. 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.
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 Prentiss County?
Prentiss County holds 6 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Booneville with 9,257 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Booneville | 9,126 | $50,879 |
|---|---|---|
| Baldwyn | 3,071 | $43,841 |
| Jumpertown | 425 | $44,583 |
| WheelerGEOID 2879280 | 274 | not published |
| MariettaGEOID 2845120 | 198 | $47,396 |
| New SiteGEOID 2851680 | 122 | 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 Prentiss County?
The median resident of Prentiss County is 38.1 years old; 22.2% are under 18 and 17.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 12.8%. 0.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Prentiss County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1±1.2 | 38.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.2% | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.5%±0.1 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.5% | 3.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.5%±1.1 pts | 55.2% | −3.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 12.8%±1.3 pts | 36.3% | +2.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±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 | 4.4%±1.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.0%±0.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.8%±0.4 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.1%±1.0 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.6%±1.2 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 18.8%±2.1 pts | 17.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.8%±1.5 pts | 11.0% | −4.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 83.9%±2.1 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.7%±2.8 pts | 25.1% | +7.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.5%±2.0 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8%±0.5 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 Prentiss County earn?
Half of Prentiss County's 9,595 households earn less than $49,724 a year (±$4,350), against $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 it was $48,312 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Prentiss County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,724±$4,350 | $56,447 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $72,563±$5,979 | $78,922 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,808±$2,237 | $31,549 | +$4,572 |
| People below the poverty line | 16.8%±2.8 pts | 18.9% | −5.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.0%±4.9 pts | 26.0% | −19.0 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.5%±2.4 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 80.3%±2.8 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 Prentiss County?
Owners occupy 77.5% of Prentiss County's occupied homes and renters 22.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $122,500 by its owner (±$11,115). The median renter pays $637 a month including utilities, and 24.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Prentiss County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $122,500±$11,115 | $169,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $637±$38 | $954 | −$87 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.7%±6.2 pts | 42.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,054±$89 | $1,394 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.5%±2.8 pts | 70.0% | +4.8 pts |
| Housing units | 11,050±25 | 1,341,114 | −156 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.8%±3.3 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.6%±2.6 pts | 69.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 15.8%±2.3 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±0.7 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.7%±1.2 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 Prentiss County building?
Builders took permits for 8 new housing units across Prentiss County in 2025 (8 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 Prentiss County get to work?
85.5% of Prentiss County's workers drive alone and 2.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.5%.
| Measure | Prentiss County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.4%±2.7 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5%±1.4 pts | 5.8% | −4.2 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 85.5%±3.4 pts | 81.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.2%±2.7 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.6%±1.2 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.5 min±1.7 | 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 Prentiss County's census tracts?
Prentiss County is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $35,294 (Tract 9503.01) to $68,170 (Tract 9502.01).
| Tract 9501.0128117950101 | 3,565±492 | $44,650 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9501.0228117950102 | 2,244±341 | $37,917 |
| Tract 9502.0128117950201 | 3,585±548 | $68,170 |
| Tract 9502.0228117950202 | 2,930±502 | $63,032 |
| Tract 9503.0128117950301 | 2,702±335 | $35,294 |
| Tract 9503.0228117950302 | 3,818±395 | $51,582 |
| Tract 950428117950400 | 4,422±506 | $51,071 |
| Tract 950528117950500 | 1,918±412 | $47,556 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Prentiss County compare with Mississippi's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 35th of 82 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 21st of 82 |
| Residents per square mile | 25th of 82 |
| Median household income | 40th of 82 |
| Median home value | 40th of 82 |
| Median gross rent | 76th of 81 |
| Poverty rate | 68th of 82 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27th of 82 |
| Median age | 59th 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 Prentiss 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.