Sunflower County, Mississippi Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Sunflower County, Mississippi, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Sunflower County, Mississippi. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Sunflower County, Mississippi. The estimated population of Sunflower County, Mississippi is 26,295 people, with a median age of 36.4.

We can look at the total population in Sunflower County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
26,295
+2.08%
-2.30%
2020
25,759
 -1.56% -
2019
26,168
 -1.37% -
2018
26,532
 -1.42% -
2017
26,915
 - -

Population of Sunflower County, Mississippi by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
23.5%
24.2%
 -2.89%
Black/African American
75.5%
73.7%
 +2.44%
Native
0.2%
0.1%
 +100.00%
Hispanic
0.3%
1.6%
 -81.25%
Asian
0.1%
0.1%
 0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
0.3%
0.3%
 0.00%
Other
0%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Sunflower County, Mississippi by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 36.4 +0.28% 34.8 +0.87% 38.9 +2.1%
2020 36.3 +1.97% 34.5 +0.88% 38.1 +2.42%
2019 35.6 +0.85% 34.2 +0.29% 37.2 +0.27%
2018 35.3 +1.15% 34.1 +1.19% 37.1 +0.54%
2017 34.9 - 33.7 - 36.9 -

The median age of Sunflower County, Mississippi gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,602 0.99% 1,698 -19.08% 1,592 1,392
10 to 19 1,904 -10.61% 1,853 +0.63% 1,706 1,863
20 to 29 2,679 -4.9% 1,818 -11.49% 2,550 1,612
30 to 39 2,182 +5.15% 1,472 -6.69% 2,284 1,374
40 to 49 1,951 +4.8% 1,539 -3.85% 2,045 1,472
50 to 59 1,750 +1.82% 1,783 -5.43% 1,778 1,685
60 to 69 1,230 -11.23% 1,366 -0.93% 1,096 1,348
70+ 816 +28.97% 1,272 +11.81% 1,075 1,423

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Sunflower County, Mississippi is $32,608.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Sunflower County.

  • Under 25
    $32,380.00
  • 25 to 44
    $34,924.00
  • 45 to 64
    $42,806.00
  • 65 and over
    $23,464.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Sunflower County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Sunflower County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Sunflower County, Mississippi is currently $50,617.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

2.09% of households in Sunflower County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Sunflower County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    40.54%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    22.77%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    16.62%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    9.19%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    7.17%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1.61%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.09%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Sunflower County is $17,232.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Sunflower County by the total population of Sunflower County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Sunflower County, Mississippi, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Sunflower County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    12.78%
  • Bachelor's degree
    18.81%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    9.41%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    52.28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    6.73%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Sunflower County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Sunflower County over the age of 16 is 21,021.

Of those people, a total of 45.30% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Sunflower County is 40.20%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,279 14.70% 27.70%
20 to 24 years 1,864 59.20% 19.10%
25 to 29 years 2,298 71.90% 8.50%
30 to 34 years 1,985 51.40% 24.90%
35 to 44 years 3,502 48.70% 10.50%
45 to 54 years 3,354 52.60% 9.90%
55 to 59 years 1,797 53.60% 4.30%
60 to 64 years 1,320 38.00% 2.00%
65 to 74 years 2,240 21.90% 2.60%
75 years and over 1,382 10.20% 3.50%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Sunflower County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 5,400 48.10% 4.70%
Black or African American 15,383 44.50% 13.90%
American Indian and Alaska Native 57 0.00% 0.00%
Asian 19 0.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 16 75.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 146 52.10% 11.00%
Hispanic or Latino 91 65.90% 5.30%
Not Hispanic or Latino 5,400 48.10% 4.70%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Sunflower County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Sunflower County is 8,447, with median earnings of $27,768.00.

Women in Sunflower County, Mississippi earning approximately 81.70% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 8,447 $27,768.00
Male 3,796 $30,699.00
Female 4,651 $25,069.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 766 $46,607.00
Business and Financial 248 $50,500.00
Computer and Mathematical 14 $58,750.00
Architecture and Engineering 59 $45,391.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 14 $0.00
Community and Social Service 105 $45,893.00
Legal 4 $0.00
Educational and Library 814 $40,513.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 97 $6,572.00
Healthcare Practitioners 486 $52,037.00
Healthcare Support 411 $18,862.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 115 $31,490.00
Law Enforcement 255 $33,821.00
Food Preparation and Serving 570 $16,092.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 531 $14,489.00
Personal Care and Service 175 $4,449.00
Sales 825 $17,423.00
Office and Administrative Support 836 $28,116.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 160 $23,704.00
Construction and Extraction 232 $18,977.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 219 $28,995.00
Production 803 $26,484.00
Transportation and Material Moving 301 $27,957.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 481 $43,807.00 285 $52,450.00
Business and Financial 120 $44,417.00 128 $55,341.00
Computer and Mathematical 7 $40,625.00 7 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 22 $49,063.00 37 $4,432.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 14 $0.00 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 25 $70,417.00 80 $45,000.00
Legal 0 $0.00 4 $0.00
Educational and Library 156 $40,833.00 658 $40,238.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 74 $6,402.00 23 $33,523.00
Healthcare Practitioners 68 $62,353.00 418 $50,556.00
Healthcare Support 16 $0.00 395 $18,973.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 25 $0.00 90 $31,096.00
Law Enforcement 206 $33,017.00 49 $36,250.00
Food Preparation and Serving 119 $20,304.00 451 $15,844.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 213 $16,801.00 318 $12,993.00
Personal Care and Service 71 $2,499.00 104 $33,125.00
Sales 332 $36,786.00 493 $15,495.00
Office and Administrative Support 125 $21,313.00 711 $29,812.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 146 $24,352.00 14 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 232 $18,977.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 210 $28,775.00 9 $0.00
Production 493 $30,089.00 310 $18,077.00
Transportation and Material Moving 283 $27,896.00 18 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 8,073 households in Sunflower County, with an average household size of 2.77 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 5,089 families in Sunflower County with an average family size of 3.59 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 2,359 430 2,300 2,984
Average Household Size 3.27 3.4 4.17 1.2
Total Families 2,359 430 2,300 0
Average Household Size 3.26 3.16 4.01 0

Poverty

Of the 5,089 families in Sunflower County, 24.20% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Sunflower County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 9,457 housing units in Sunflower County, Mississippi.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 8,073 85.37%
Vacant 1,384 14.63%

33.86% of the total 9,457 housing units in Sunflower County are rental units. This is approximately 3,202 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 4,324 are occupied by the owner - or 45.72% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Sunflower County is $622.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Sunflower County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    547
  • Less than $500
    1,051
  • $500 to $999
    1,959
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    182
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    7
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    3

Property Value

The median value of a property in Sunflower County is $93,700.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Sunflower County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    795
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,531
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    866
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    567
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    453
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    82
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    13
  • $1,000,000 or more
    17

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Sunflower County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Sunflower County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    481
  • 1940 to 1949
    349
  • 1950 to 1959
    920
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,410
  • 1970 to 1979
    2,573
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,656
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,292
  • 2000 to 2009
    632
  • 2010 to 2013
    136
  • 2014 or later
    8

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Sunflower County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    820
  • 1 vehicle available
    3,275
  • 2 vehicles available
    2,482
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,496

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Sunflower County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Sunflower County that commute to work in a particular way.

19.8 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Sunflower County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    690
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,774
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    1,326
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,326
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    693
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    462
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    723
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    287
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    70
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    347
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    144
  • 90 or more minutes
    211

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Sunflower County, Mississippi in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Sunflower County, Mississippi

We have data for 11 places in Sunflower County, Mississippi. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.