County · Mississippi
Stone County, Mississippi
Stone County, Mississippi. Stone County had 19,654 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.2% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. It holds 2 places (1 city, village or borough and 1 census-designated) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 28131.
Stone 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
19,654
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 18,333 · ACS 2020-2024: 18,894
Median household income
$61,413
±$6,291 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447
Median home value
$161,100
±$11,554 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800
Median gross rent
$936
±$53 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954
How many people live in Stone County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 18,333 residents in Stone County. The Census Bureau estimates 19,654 for July 1, 2025, up 7.2% since 2020, while Mississippi shrank 0.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 18,894 over 445 square miles of land.
| Measure | Stone County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 18,894 | 2,946,779 | +618 |
| Households | 6,705±246 | 1,145,431 | +371 |
| Average household size | 2.72±0.10 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,670±20 | 1,341,114 | +204 |
Stone County's population since 2000
From 13,622 in 2000 to 19,654 in 2025: up 44.3%. 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 Stone County?
Stone County holds 2 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Wiggins with 4,316 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Wiggins | 4,272 | $49,870 |
|---|---|---|
| BondGEOID 2807620 | 506 | $49,385 |
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 Stone County?
The median resident of Stone County is 39.5 years old; 21.2% are under 18 and 17.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 75.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 17.1%. 1.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Stone County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5±0.7 | 38.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.2%±0.1 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.4%±0.7 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.6% | 3.7% | +0.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 75.2%±1.0 pts | 55.2% | −1.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 17.1%±1.2 pts | 36.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.7 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 | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.3%±1.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1%±0.7 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.4%±0.8 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5%±1.8 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 21.9%±3.0 pts | 17.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.9%±2.8 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.2%±2.9 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 17.2%±2.9 pts | 25.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.4%±1.6 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.6%±0.6 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 Stone County earn?
Half of Stone County's 6,705 households earn less than $61,413 a year (±$6,291), against $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 it was $55,976 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Stone County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,413±$6,291 | $56,447 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $73,100±$5,784 | $78,922 | – |
| Per capita income | $27,312±$2,157 | $31,549 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.9%±4.6 pts | 18.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.0%±8.4 pts | 26.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.5%±3.3 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 80.9%±3.3 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 Stone County?
Owners occupy 80.7% of Stone County's occupied homes and renters 19.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $161,100 by its owner (±$11,554). The median renter pays $936 a month including utilities, and 34.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Stone County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $161,100±$11,554 | $169,800 | +$22,278 |
| Median gross rent | $936±$53 | $954 | +$99 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.8%±12.1 pts | 42.1% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,192±$68 | $1,394 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.7%±3.7 pts | 70.0% | +6.2 pts |
| Housing units | 7,670±20 | 1,341,114 | +204 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6%±1.0 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.9%±1.4 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.6%±4.7 pts | 69.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 21.3%±4.5 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.0%±0.9 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.2%±2.6 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 Stone County building?
Builders took permits for 51 new housing units across Stone County in 2025 (51 single-family), 2.6 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 Stone County get to work?
85.9% of Stone County's workers drive alone and 3.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 9.3%.
| Measure | Stone County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 51.4%±3.5 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 9.3%±3.7 pts | 5.8% | +5.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 85.9%±4.2 pts | 81.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.0%±2.7 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 3.6%±2.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.3%±2.1 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.8 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 Stone County's census tracts?
Stone County is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $42,361 (Tract 202.06) to $85,955 (Tract 202.03).
| Tract 20128131020100 | 3,732±402 | $51,473 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 202.0328131020203 | 4,754±568 | $85,955 |
| Tract 202.0428131020204 | 3,304±398 | $54,485 |
| Tract 202.0528131020205 | 4,733±700 | $83,176 |
| Tract 202.0628131020206 | 2,371±545 | $42,361 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Stone County compare with Mississippi's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 47th of 82 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 2nd of 82 |
| Residents per square mile | 42nd of 82 |
| Median household income | 10th of 82 |
| Median home value | 19th of 82 |
| Median gross rent | 15th of 81 |
| Poverty rate | 66th of 82 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49th of 82 |
| Median age | 45th 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 Stone 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.