County · Mississippi
Winston County, Mississippi
Winston County, Mississippi. Winston County had 17,473 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than Mississippi's (−0.2%). It holds 2 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 28159.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,473
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,714 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,536
Median household income
$53,031
±$6,755 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $56,447
Median home value
$124,600
±$14,243 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $169,800
Median gross rent
$721
±$76 (90% margin)
Mississippi: $954
How many people live in Winston County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 17,714 residents in Winston County. The Census Bureau estimates 17,473 for July 1, 2025, down 1.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than Mississippi's (−0.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 17,536 over 607 square miles of land.
| Measure | Winston County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,536 | 2,946,779 | −693 |
| Households | 7,141±251 | 1,145,431 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.40±0.08 | 2.49 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,231±22 | 1,341,114 | −524 |
Winston County's population since 2000
From 20,160 in 2000 to 17,473 in 2025: down 13.3%. 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 Winston County?
Winston County holds 2 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Louisville with 5,921 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Louisville | 6,072 | $36,985 |
|---|---|---|
| NoxapaterGEOID 2852880 | 390 | $46,023 |
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 Winston County?
The median resident of Winston County is 42.8 years old; 22.2% are under 18 and 21.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 49.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 47.1%.
| Measure | Winston County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8±0.7 | 38.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.2%±0.3 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.7%±0.1 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.6%±0.4 pts | 3.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 49.4%±0.1 pts | 55.2% | −0.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 47.1%±1.3 pts | 36.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.7%±1.3 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.6%±0.8 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.8%±1.6 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 23.6%±2.5 pts | 17.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.5%±2.4 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.1%±2.4 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.7%±2.4 pts | 25.1% | +5.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.2%±2.0 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.9%±2.1 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 Winston County earn?
Half of Winston County's 7,141 households earn less than $53,031 a year (±$6,755), against $56,447 in Mississippi. In 2015-2019 the median was $42,735 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $10,296 after inflation. 26.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Winston County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,031±$6,755 | $56,447 | +$10,296 |
| Mean household income | $73,896±$7,963 | $78,922 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,301±$3,484 | $31,549 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 26.9%±3.6 pts | 18.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 43.7%±7.6 pts | 26.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 18.5%±3.4 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 75.4%±4.4 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 Winston County?
Owners occupy 73.0% of Winston County's occupied homes and renters 27.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $124,600 by its owner (±$14,243). The median renter pays $721 a month including utilities, and 39.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Winston County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $124,600±$14,243 | $169,800 | +$20,114 |
| Median gross rent | $721±$76 | $954 | −$137 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.4%±9.6 pts | 42.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,173±$49 | $1,394 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 73.0%±3.6 pts | 70.0% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,231±22 | 1,341,114 | −524 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.1%±1.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.7%±2.5 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.4%±3.4 pts | 69.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 13.0%±2.4 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.3%±0.9 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.7%±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 Winston County building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units across Winston County in 2025 (1 single-family), 0.1 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 Winston County get to work?
84.6% of Winston County's workers drive alone and 3.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.7%.
| Measure | Winston County | Mississippi | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 50.7%±2.7 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7%±2.7 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 84.6%±3.7 pts | 81.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.0%±2.0 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.5%±1.3 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.0 min±1.6 | 25.6 min | −3.1 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 Winston County's census tracts?
Winston County is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $32,612 (Tract 9503) to $72,500 (Tract 9501).
| Tract 950128159950100 | 3,058±422 | $72,500 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 950228159950200 | 3,107±357 | $61,964 |
| Tract 950328159950300 | 3,799±416 | $32,612 |
| Tract 950428159950400 | 3,744±360 | $53,287 |
| Tract 950528159950500 | 3,828±362 | $61,211 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Winston County compare with Mississippi's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 51st of 82 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 35th of 82 |
| Residents per square mile | 51st of 82 |
| Median household income | 27th of 82 |
| Median home value | 36th of 82 |
| Median gross rent | 56th of 81 |
| Poverty rate | 18th of 82 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27th of 82 |
| Median age | 12th 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 Winston 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.