Kemper County, MS

County

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2024 Population

8,729

US Senator

Roger Wicker

Republican Party

US Senator

Cindy Hyde-Smith

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

40.6

0.246% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

24.8%

0.77% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$46,431

6.51% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$99,600

10.4% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

3,420

2.09% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Kemper County, MS reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

99.9% of the residents in Kemper County, MS are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Kemper County, MS are East Mississippi Community College (1,011 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2024, the median property value in Kemper County, MS was $99,600, and the homeownership rate was 79%.

Most people in Kemper County, MS drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 31.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Kemper County, MS was 3 cars per household.

Kemper County, MS borders Sumter County, AL, Lauderdale County, MS, Neshoba County, MS, Newton County, MS, Noxubee County, MS, and Winston County, MS.

United States Mississippi Meridian, MS

Population & Diversity

Kemper County, MS is home to a population of 8.73k people, from which 99.9% are citizens. As of 2024, 0.504% of Kemper County, MS residents were born outside of the country (44 people).

In 2024, there were 1.79 times more Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents (5.19k people) in Kemper County, MS than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.9k White (Non-Hispanic) and 296 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.9%

2024 Citizenship

99.9%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 99.9% of Kemper County, MS residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Kemper County, MS was 99.9%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Kemper County, MS compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Kemper County, MS

Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
5.19k ± 147
White (Non-Hispanic)
2.9k ± 20
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
296 ± 159

1.21%

Hispanic Population

106 people

1.21% of the people in Kemper County, MS are hispanic (106 people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Kemper County, MS as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Mississippi.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
17,149 ± 3,206 people
Honduras
5,066 ± 1,746 people
India
4,341 ± 1,616 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Mississippi was Mexico, the natal country of 17,149 Mississippi residents, followed by Honduras with 5,066 and India with 4,341.

Foreign-Born Population

0.504%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

44 people

0.26%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

23 people

As of 2024, 0.504% of Kemper County, MS residents (44 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Kemper County, MS was 0.26%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Kemper County, MS compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
214 ± 107
Gulf War (1990s)
130 ± 66
Gulf War (2001-)
77 ± 73

Kemper County, MS has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.65 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Kemper County, MS.

Economy

The economy of Kemper County, MS employs 3.42k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Kemper County, MS were Educational Services (536 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (526 people), and Retail Trade (437 people), and the highest paying industries were Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting ($77,989), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($77,989), and Utilities ($67,841).

Employment

Occupations

3.42k

2024 Value

± 466

2.09%

1 Year growth

± 19.2%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Kemper County, MS grew at a rate of 2.09%, from 3.35k employees to 3.42k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Kemper County, MS, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (582 people), Production Occupations (356 people), and Business & Financial Operations Occupations (306 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Kemper County, MS.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Mississippi.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Mississippi (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

3.42k

2024 Value

± 466

2.09%

1 Year growth

± 19.2%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Kemper County, MS grew at a rate of 2.09%, from 3.35k employees to 3.42k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Kemper County, MS, are Educational Services (536 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (526 people), and Retail Trade (437 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Kemper County, MS, though some of these residents may live in Kemper County, MS and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$39,393

Median earning men ± $7,998

$28,657

Median earning women ± $4,664

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($77,989), Other Services Except Public Administration ($54,151), and Manufacturing ($49,932).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($42,344), Other Services Except Public Administration ($35,700), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($29,167).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Mississippi.

Y-Axis

1.38%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.17M people employed in Mississippi. This represents a 1.38% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 12.5%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Mississippi.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

14
Other Services (except Public Administration)
8
Retail Trade
6
Finance and Insurance

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$8.1k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$7.31k
Manufacturing
$4.46k
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Mississippi went to Donald J. Trump with 60.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (38%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.439%).

Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith are the senators currently representing the state of Mississippi. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Mississippi is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Kemper County, MS. Showing the available data for Mississippi.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (60.9%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (38%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (0.439%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Mississippi went to Donald J. Trump with 60.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (38%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.439%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Mississippi for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Mississippi

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Mississippi.

Roger Wicker

Senator from Mississippi

Assumed office on December 31, 2007
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Trent Lott.

Cindy Hyde-Smith

Senator from Mississippi

Assumed office on April 9, 2018
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Thad Cochran.

Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith are the senators currently representing Mississippi.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Mississippi over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Kemper County, MS awarded 1,011 degrees. The student population of Kemper County, MS in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 1,564 male students and 2,078 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Kemper County, MS are White (535 and 52.9%), Black or African American (401 and 39.7%), Unknown (56 and 5.54%), and American Indian or Alaska Native (12 and 1.19%).

The largest universities in Kemper County, MS by number of degrees awarded are East Mississippi Community College (1,011 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Kemper County, MS are Health Information & Medical Records Technology (84 and 8.31%), Pre-Nursing Studies (76 and 7.52%), and Welding Technology (75 and 7.42%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 3,642 students enrolled in Kemper County, MS, 42.9% men and 57.1% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Black or African American with 1,676 records, of which 65.2% were women and 34.8% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Pre-Nursing Studies
76 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
74 degrees awarded
General Business
54 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Kemper County, MS was Pre-Nursing Studies with 76 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Kemper County, MS according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

East Mississippi Community College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

1,011 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was East Mississippi Community College with 1,011 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 471 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Kemper County, MS, which is 0.872 times less than the 540 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 535 degrees mean that there were 1.33 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 401 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($3,500) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($450) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,200) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Kemper County, MS was $99,600 in 2024, which is 0.299 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $90,200 to $99,600, a 10.4% increase. The homeownership rate in Kemper County, MS is 79%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Kemper County, MS have an average commute time of 31.2 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Kemper County, MS is higher than the national average, with an average of 3 cars per household.

In 2025, 19.6% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Kemper County, MS. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.338%.

Housing

Property

$99,600

Median Property Value 2024

±$21,335

$2,546

Median Property Taxes

±$387

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Kemper County, MS the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Kemper County, MS compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

79%

Homeownership

2024

63%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 79% of the housing units in Kemper County, MS were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 77.6%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Kemper County, MS compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$46,431

Median Household Income

± $5,352

3.22k

Number of Households

± 440

In 2024, the median household income of the 3.22k households in Kemper County, MS grew to $46,431 from the previous year's value of $43,595.

The following chart displays the households in Kemper County, MS distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Kemper County, MS is from Mississippi.

0.45

2023 Wage GINI in Mississippi

0.452

2022 Wage GINI in Mississippi

In 2023, the income inequality in Mississippi was 0.45 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.442% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Mississippi was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Mississippi in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Mississippi across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (83.5%)
Carpooled (10.8%)
Other (1.84%)

In 2024, 83.5% of workers in Kemper County, MS drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.8%) and those who used some unspecified means to get work (1.84%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

31.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Kemper County, MS have a longer commute time (31.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.75% of the workforce in Kemper County, MS have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Kemper County, MS compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

3 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Kemper County, MS distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Kemper County, MS have 3 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 19.6% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Kemper County, MS. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.338%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

24.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Kemper County, MS (1.99k out of 8.01k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males < 5 and then Females 45 - 54.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Kemper County, MS is Black, followed by White and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 35.9% of the children was living in poverty in Kemper County, MS. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.1%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 98.5 in Kemper County, MS. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 34.6 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

84.6% of the population of Kemper County, MS has health coverage, with 29.5% on employee plans, 22% on Medicaid, 15.3% on Medicare, 15.6% on non-group plans, and 2.2% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Kemper County, MS see 8,829 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (8,829 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 4327 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 8584 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.6% were men and 50.4% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

8,829 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Kemper County, MS

Primary care physicians in Kemper County, MS see an average of 8,829 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (8,829 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Kemper County, MS in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 20.5% under 18 years, 22.2% between 18 and 34 years, 35% between 35 and 64 years, and 22.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.6% were men and 50.4% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

15.4%

Uninsured

29.5%

Employer Coverage

22%

Medicaid

15.3%

Medicare

15.6%

Non-Group

2.2%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Kemper County, MS grew by 5.57% from 14.6% to 15.4%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Kemper County, MS changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.