7th most populous of 82
With 83,012 residents in 2024, Lee County ranks 7th by population among Mississippi's 82 counties and is home to 2.8% of the state's residents.
Lee County is home to 83,012 people (2024 estimate) on 450 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
83,012
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
83,346
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−0.4%
2020–2024
Land area
450 mi²
1,165 km²
Population density
184.5 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
1,001
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
929
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+72
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+44
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$56,315
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$6.5 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$67,863
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
14.6%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
28.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
2.4%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$199,500
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.9%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–202483,012▲ 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 | 83,012 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 82,910 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 75,876 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +9.4% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +36 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | +8 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 12.1 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 11.2 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Mississippi | 7th of 82 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $56,315 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $6.5 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $67,863 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 28.6% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.4% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $199,500 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $957/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 37.5 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 32,591 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.8% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Lee County in context
Comparable indicators for Lee County, Mississippi and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Mississippi | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | −0.4% | −0.6% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 12.1 | 11.5 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 11.2 | 12.2 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 0.5 | 0.6 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 184.5 | 62.7 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $56,315 | $52,074 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $67,863 | $56,447 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 18.9% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 28.6% | 25.1% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.4% | 2.4% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $199,500 | $169,800 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $957/month | $954/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 37.5 years | 38.6 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.8% | 70.0% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
1 city · choose how to order them
Tupelo
38,000 residents
Did you know? Lee County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 75,876 in 2000 to 83,012 in 2024, a change of +9.4%, compared with +3.3% for Mississippi as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 1,001 births and 929 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 72.
Peak population in 2019
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 85,674 in 2019. The 2024 figure is 2,662 lower.
6th in density
Lee County has about 184.5 residents per square mile of land, ranking 6th of 82 counties; Mississippi averages 62.7.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $67,863 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 6th of 82 Mississippi counties; the state median is $56,447.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $6.5 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 7th largest among 82 Mississippi counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 0.9% 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