Lamar County, MS

County

Add Comparison

2024 Population

65,713

US Senator

Roger Wicker

Republican Party

US Senator

Cindy Hyde-Smith

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

37.7

0.533% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

14.7%

8.77% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$70,909

2.61% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$224,700

2.74% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

31,262

3.3% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Lamar 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.

98.5% of the residents in Lamar County, MS are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Lamar County, MS are Institute of Health & Technology (37 degrees awarded in 2021).

In 2024, the median property value in Lamar County, MS was $224,700, and the homeownership rate was 69.5%.

Most people in Lamar County, MS drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 26 minutes. The average car ownership in Lamar County, MS was 2 cars per household.

Lamar County, MS borders Covington County, MS, Forrest County, MS, Jefferson Davis County, MS, Marion County, MS, and Pearl River County, MS.

United States Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS

Population & Diversity

Lamar County, MS is home to a population of 65.7k people, from which 98.5% are citizens. As of 2024, 2.45% of Lamar County, MS residents were born outside of the country (1.61k people).

In 2024, there were 3.25 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (46.4k people) in Lamar County, MS than any other race or ethnicity. There were 14.3k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 1.56k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.5%

2024 Citizenship

98.4%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 98.5% of Lamar County, MS residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Lamar County, MS was 98.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Lamar County, MS

White (Non-Hispanic)
46.4k ± 173
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
14.3k ± 382
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
1.56k ± 412

3.68%

Hispanic Population

2.42k people

3.68% of the people in Lamar County, MS are hispanic (2.42k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Lamar 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

2.45%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

1.61k people

2.34%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1.53k people

As of 2024, 2.45% of Lamar County, MS residents (1.61k 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 Lamar County, MS was 2.34%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
1,216 ± 341
Vietnam
833 ± 218
Gulf War (1990s)
650 ± 221

Lamar County, MS has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.46 times greater than any other conflict.

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

Economy

The economy of Lamar County, MS employs 31.3k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Lamar County, MS were Health Care & Social Assistance (4,875 people), Educational Services (4,008 people), and Manufacturing (3,236 people), and the highest paying industries were Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($93,286), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($85,332), and Wholesale Trade ($80,583).

Employment

Occupations

31.3k

2024 Value

± 1,616

3.3%

1 Year growth

± 7.31%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Lamar County, MS grew at a rate of 3.3%, from 30.3k employees to 31.3k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Lamar County, MS, are Management Occupations (4,510 people), Sales & Related Occupations (3,136 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,850 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Lamar 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

31.3k

2024 Value

± 1,616

3.3%

1 Year growth

± 7.31%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Lamar County, MS grew at a rate of 3.3%, from 30.3k employees to 31.3k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Lamar County, MS, are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,875 people), Educational Services (4,008 people), and Manufacturing (3,236 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Lamar County, MS, though some of these residents may live in Lamar County, MS and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$54,799

Median earning men ± $2,923

$36,549

Median earning women ± $3,133

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Wholesale Trade ($91,107), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($78,827), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($70,625).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Information ($65,962), Public Administration ($45,167), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($45,005).

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

100
Retail Trade
80
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
77
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

$188k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$139k
Retail Trade
$69.9k
Finance and Insurance

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 Lamar 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 2021, universities in Lamar County, MS awarded 37 degrees. The student population of Lamar County, MS in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 3 male students and 33 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Lamar County, MS are Black or African American (27 and 73%) and White (10 and 27%).

The largest universities in Lamar County, MS by number of degrees awarded are Institute of Health & Technology (37 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Lamar County, MS are Medical Assistant (18 and 48.6%), Massage Therapy (12 and 32.4%), and Pharmacy Technician (7 and 18.9%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2020 there were 36 students enrolled in Lamar County, MS, 8.33% men and 91.7% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Black or African American with 32 records, of which 90.6% were women and 9.38% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Medical Assistant
18 degrees awarded
Massage Therapy
12 degrees awarded
Pharmacy Technician
7 degrees awarded

In 2021, the most common concentation for Certificate of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years recipients in Lamar County, MS was Medical Assistant with 18 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Certificate of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years from schools in Lamar County, MS according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Institute of Health & Technology

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

37 degrees awarded

In 2021, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Institute of Health & Technology with 37 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2021, 4 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Lamar County, MS, which is 0.121 times less than the 33 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2021, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Black or African American students. These 27 degrees mean that there were 2.7 times more degrees awarded to Black or African American students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 10 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.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Lamar County, MS was $224,700 in 2024, which is 0.675 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $218,700 to $224,700, a 2.74% increase. The homeownership rate in Lamar County, MS is 69.5%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Lamar County, MS have an average commute time of 26 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Lamar County, MS is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 12.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Lamar County, MS. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.37%.

Housing

Property

$224,700

Median Property Value 2024

±$10,031

$17,647

Median Property Taxes

±$1,128

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 Lamar County, MS the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

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

Rent vs Own

69.5%

Homeownership

2024

66.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 69.5% of the housing units in Lamar County, MS were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 68.1%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Lamar 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.

$70,909

Median Household Income

± $4,616

25.4k

Number of Households

± 1,462

In 2024, the median household income of the 25.4k households in Lamar County, MS grew to $70,909 from the previous year's value of $69,106.

The following chart displays the households in Lamar 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 $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Lamar 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 (81.2%)
Carpooled (9.39%)
Worked At Home (5.36%)

In 2024, 81.2% of workers in Lamar County, MS drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.39%) and those who worked at home (5.36%).

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

26 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Lamar County, MS have a shorter commute time (26 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 4.74% of the workforce in Lamar County, MS have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Lamar County, MS distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Lamar County, MS have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 12.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Lamar County, MS. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.37%.

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

Poverty & Diversity

14.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Lamar County, MS (9.57k out of 65.2k 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 18 - 24, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Lamar County, MS is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

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, 15% of the children was living in poverty in Lamar County, MS. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 8.4%.

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 57.8 in Lamar County, MS. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 52.2 per 100,000 population.

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

Health

88.9% of the population of Lamar County, MS has health coverage, with 45% on employee plans, 15% on Medicaid, 11.5% on Medicare, 15% on non-group plans, and 2.36% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Lamar County, MS see 807 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (807 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 914 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 1698 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.8% were men and 52.2% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

807 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Lamar County, MS

Primary care physicians in Lamar County, MS see an average of 807 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (807 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.6% under 18 years, 20.9% between 18 and 34 years, 38.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.8% were men and 52.2% were women.

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

Uninsured People

11.1%

Uninsured

45%

Employer Coverage

15%

Medicaid

11.5%

Medicare

15%

Non-Group

2.36%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Lamar County, MS declined by 12.8% from 12.8% to 11.1%.

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

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 51.1 in Lamar County, MS.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Lamar County, MS.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 39.5% in Lamar County, MS.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Lamar County, MS.