In Forrest County, Mississippi, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in three dollars of the typical household's income
In Forrest County, 32.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 98% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 92% of U.S. counties.
What drives Forrest County's score
In Forrest County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 87.4. Late payments on loans come next, at 86.3.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Forrest County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Forrest County does better than most counties on one measure: unemployment rate, average over the latest year (3.4%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 87.4 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent22.7% · 2020 to 202476th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income32.0% · fiscal year 202798th percentile
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- 86.3 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.6% · August 202581st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind9.9% · August 202591st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score53.0% · second quarter of 202686th percentile
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- 84.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line21.4% · 202490th percentile
- Children below the poverty line27.8% · 202487th percentile
- People with a disability19.2% · 2020 to 202475th percentile
- People without health insurance11.1% · 2020 to 202473rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$49,352 · 202492nd percentile
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- 80.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector30.8% · August 202576th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people244.2 · 202584th percentile
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- 47.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202626th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working24.0% · 2020 to 202468th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Forrest County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Forrest County, 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Forrest County
Mississippi
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Forrest County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 28.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Forrest County, Mississippi, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Forrest County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 16.4% in 2012 to 19.3% in 2013.
The share of households in Forrest County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen to 16.6%
Low on the chart: 13.9% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Forrest County, Mississippi.
How Forrest County has changed
Forrest County's population rose 36% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1969 to 1974, reaching 62,491. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Forrest County, Mississippi.
The number of jobs located in Forrest County had its largest rise, from 36,085 in 2010 to 38,150 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Forrest County rose by about a quarter from 1990 to 2025, reaching 38,996, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2005 to 2010, reaching 36,085. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Forrest County, Mississippi.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.9% | 2025 3.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 23.7% | 2024 21.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $18,562 | 2024 $49,352 |
The table uses 3.6% for 2025; the score uses 3.4% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Forrest County's history
1998
A thunderstorm in June 1998 did $1 million in property damage and killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1999
A flash flood in January 1999 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A tornado in February 2013 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2017
A tornado in January 2017 did $9 million in property damage and killed four people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 78,158, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1969
32 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Forrest County, 8 of them for flooding. FEMA
Forrest County beside its neighbors
Forrest County scores higher than all six counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Forrest County ranks 6th of the seven; Perry County is highest, at 38.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest County, MS | 92 | 21.4% | 28.3% |
| Perry County, MS | 86 | 17.8% | 38.3% |
| Covington County, MS | 83 | 20.0% | 31.7% |
| Jones County, MS | 79 | 19.2% | 32.3% |
| Stone County, MS | 78 | 16.0% | 35.8% |
| Pearl River County, MS | 76 | 16.5% | 30.2% |
| Lamar County, MS | 45 | 11.6% | 20.0% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Forrest County the poorest county in Mississippi?
No, Forrest County's poverty rate was 21.4% in 2024, 29th highest of 82 in Mississippi (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Issaquena County, at 55.7%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Forrest County ranks 31st of 82 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Forrest County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Breakthrough Community Services, Inc
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Mississippi Center for Legal Services
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Forrest County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Forrest County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.