About one in three adults aged 25 to 54 in George County, Mississippi, is not working
In George County, 32.9% of adults aged 25 to 54 were not working. That is higher than in 93% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 71% of U.S. counties.
What drives George County's score
In George County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 80.3. Late payments on loans come next, at 78.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in George 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.
George County does better than most counties on two measures: renters paying half their income or more in rent (6.9%, 2020 to 2024) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (18.0%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 80.3 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202666th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working32.9% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
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- 78.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.9% · August 202583rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.0% · August 202572nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score49.8% · second quarter of 202679th percentile
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- 74.4 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector27.9% · August 202567th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people226.4 · 202581st percentile
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- 67.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.1% · 202457th percentile
- Children below the poverty line20.2% · 202465th percentile
- People with a disability20.8% · 2020 to 202483rd percentile
- People without health insurance12.5% · 2020 to 202480th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$66,266 · 202451st percentile
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- 13.8 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent6.9% · 2020 to 20246th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.0% · fiscal year 202721st 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 George 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 George County, 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
George County
Mississippi
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In George County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 28.5% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In George County, Mississippi, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.5%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in George County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 16.0% in 2009 to 13.0% in 2010.
The share of households in George County getting SNAP food aid fell by about a third from 2009 to 2024, reaching 11.0%, with its low point on the chart in 2023
Low on the chart: 10.1% in 2023. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, George County, Mississippi.
How George County has changed
George County's population had its largest rise, from 20,326 in 2004 to 22,280 in 2009.
George County's population doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 25,880, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1984 to 1989, reaching 16,526. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, George County, Mississippi.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in George County doubled to 5,354, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2010 to 2015, reaching 4,918. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, George County, Mississippi.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 10.7% | 2025 5.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 18.9% | 2024 14.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,313 | 2024 $66,266 |
The table uses 5.1% for 2025; the score uses 4.5% 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 George County's history
2002
Lightning in August 2002 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 24,350, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2021
A flash flood in August 2021 did $1.8 million in property damage and killed three people. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1969
34 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered George County, 6 of them for flooding. FEMA
George County beside its neighbors
All five counties that border George County, in Mississippi and Alabama, score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, George County ranks 4th of the six; Perry County is highest, at 38.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene County, MS | 94 | 22.0% | 33.7% |
| Mobile County, AL | 90 | 16.7% | 27.2% |
| Perry County, MS | 86 | 17.8% | 38.3% |
| Stone County, MS | 78 | 16.0% | 35.8% |
| Jackson County, MS | 74 | 13.8% | 24.9% |
| George County, MS | 71 | 14.1% | 28.5% |
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 George County the poorest county in Mississippi?
No, George County's poverty rate was 14.1% in 2024, 76th 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, George County ranks 69th of 82 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in George 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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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 George 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 George County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.