About one in five people in Harrison County, Mississippi, has a disability
In Harrison County, 19.9% of people reported a disability (Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024). That is higher than in 79% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 86% of U.S. counties.
What drives Harrison County's score
In Harrison County, late payments on loans weigh most: the score for late payments on loans is 82.2. About one in three people (35.9%, Q4 2025) has a subprime credit score, a higher share than in 89% of U.S. counties. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 80.1.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Harrison County does better than most counties on one measure: unemployment rate, 12-month average (3.4%, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Harrison County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 82.2 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.7% · August 202580th percentile
- People with a credit card behind7.3% · August 202576th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score35.9% · Q4 202589th percentile
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- 80.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector30.3% · August 202574th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people252.1 · 202585th percentile
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- 74.8 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.4% · fiscal year 202766th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent24.0% · 2020 to 202482nd percentile
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- 74.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line23.2% · 202476th percentile
- People with a disability19.9% · 2020 to 202479th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,362 · 202460th percentile
- People below the poverty line15.9% · 202470th percentile
- People without health insurance13.1% · 2020 to 202483rd percentile
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- 46.9 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working23.7% · 2020 to 202467th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average3.4% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202626th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; 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 Aug 2026.
Where the money in Harrison County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Harrison County
Mississippi
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Harrison County in 2024, pay from work was 53 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 19 cents. Benefit checks were 28 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 6 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Harrison County, benefit checks rose from 6 to 28 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Harrison County, Mississippi: 27.9% and 53.3% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 27.9% of all personal income in Harrison County, Mississippi (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
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 Harrison County, 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Harrison County has changed
The number of people living in Harrison County grew by about 60% between 1969 and 2024, from 133,392 to 213,730. The number of jobs located there grew by about 48% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 6.6% in 1990 to 3.5% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 133,392 | 2024 213,730 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 59,966 | 2024 89,013 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.6% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 19.7% | 2024 15.9% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $21,321 | 2024 $63,362 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 5.8% | 2024 27.9% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Harrison County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 208,621, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
1942
Keesler Field built during World War II, became Keesler Air Force Base, major basic training site. Wikipedia
1967
Tornado: $25 million in property damage, four deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
1980
Tornado: $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1994
Tornado: $5 million in property damage, two deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
Flash flood: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
37 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Harrison County, 6 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Harrison County beside its neighbors
Harrison County scores higher than all three counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Harrison County ranks 3rd of the four; Stone County is highest, at 35.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County, MS | 86 | 15.9% | 27.9% |
| Stone County, MS | 79 | 16.0% | 35.8% |
| Jackson County, MS | 75 | 13.8% | 24.9% |
| Hancock County, MS | 69 | 16.5% | 28.2% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 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 Harrison County the poorest county in Mississippi?
No, Harrison County's poverty rate was 15.9% in 2024, 69th 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, Harrison County ranks 52nd of 82 in the state.
Harrison County in photographs
Places in Harrison County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Monument at grave site of Lt.
Harrison County, Mississippi: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Harrison County, Mississippi?
15.9% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in six people. Among children it was 23.2%.
Is Harrison County the poorest county in Mississippi?
No, Harrison County's poverty rate was 15.9% in 2024, 69th 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, Harrison County ranks 52nd of 82 in the state.
What is the population of Harrison County, Mississippi?
About 213,730 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 208,621, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Harrison County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Mercy Housing and Human Development
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Renaissance Community Loan Fund
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Mississippi Center for Legal Services
Legal aid
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North Mississippi Rural Legal Services
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies 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 Harrison County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Harrison County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.