8th most populous of 82
With 78,435 residents in 2024, Forrest County ranks 8th by population among Mississippi's 82 counties and is home to 2.7% of the state's residents.
Forrest County is home to 78,435 people (2024 estimate) on 466 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
78,435
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
78,177
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+0.3%
2020–2024
Land area
466 mi²
1,207 km²
Population density
168.3 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
991
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
881
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+110
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
−106
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$47,943
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$4.8 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$53,640
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
21.0%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
30.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
3.0%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$168,000
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.1%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–202478,435▲ 9%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 78,435 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 74,934 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 71,982 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +9.0% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +200 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −306 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 12.6 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 11.2 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Mississippi | 8th of 82 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $47,943 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $4.8 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $53,640 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 21.0% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 30.6% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 3.0% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $168,000 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $972/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 32.0 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 30,127 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Forrest County in context
Comparable indicators for Forrest County, Mississippi and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Mississippi | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +0.3% | −0.6% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 12.6 | 11.5 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 11.2 | 12.2 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | -1.4 | 0.6 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 168.3 | 62.7 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $47,943 | $52,074 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $53,640 | $56,447 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 21.0% | 18.9% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 30.6% | 25.1% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 3.0% | 2.4% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $168,000 | $169,800 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $972/month | $954/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 32.0 years | 38.6 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.2% | 70.0% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Did you know? Forrest County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 71,982 in 2000 to 78,435 in 2024, a change of +9.0%, compared with +3.3% for Mississippi as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 991 births and 881 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 110.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 78,435.
7th in density
Forrest County has about 168.3 residents per square mile of land, ranking 7th of 82 counties; Mississippi averages 62.7.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $53,640 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 24th of 82 Mississippi counties; the state median is $56,447.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $4.8 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 8th largest among 82 Mississippi counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 1.0% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS