In Hinds County, Mississippi, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Hinds County, 29.8% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 96% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 98% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hinds County's score
In Hinds County, late payments on loans weigh most: the score for late payments on loans is 96.5. People with a car or retail loan behind: 13.7%, August 2025, higher than in 98% of U.S. counties. Housing costs come next, at 94.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Hinds 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.
Hinds County does better than most counties on two measures: unemployment rate, average over the latest year (3.8%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026) and people with a disability (15.5%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 96.5 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind10.5% · August 202595th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind13.7% · August 202598th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score58.9% · second quarter of 202695th percentile
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- 94.6 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 rent27.4% · 2020 to 202492nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income29.8% · fiscal year 202796th percentile
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- 94.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector38.5% · August 202592nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people424 · 202596th percentile
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- 80.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line22.2% · 202492nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line31.6% · 202493rd percentile
- People with a disability15.5% · 2020 to 202445th percentile
- People without health insurance12.9% · 2020 to 202482nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$51,926 · 202488th percentile
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- 58.4 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202642nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working25.1% · 2020 to 202474th 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 Hinds 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 Hinds County, 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Hinds County
Mississippi
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Hinds County, benefit checks' share of income has grown to about four times its 1969 level, reaching 26.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Hinds County, Mississippi, benefit checks' share of income grew to about four times its 1969 level by 2024, reaching 26.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Hinds County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 15.2% in 2010 to 16.9% in 2011.
The share of households in Hinds County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 13.7% 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, Hinds County, Mississippi.
How Hinds County has changed
Hinds County's population had its largest rise, from 212,840 in 1969 to 231,806 in 1974.
Hinds County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 260,148 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Hinds County, Mississippi.
The number of jobs located in Hinds County had its largest drop, from 136,672 in 2000 to 127,413 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Hinds County fell 17% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 139,460 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Hinds County, Mississippi.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.6% | 2025 3.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 23.6% | 2024 22.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $22,137 | 2024 $51,926 |
The table uses 3.9% for 2025; the score uses 3.8% 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 Hinds County's history
1966
A tornado in March 1966 did $25 million in property damage and killed 57 people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1990
The county's largest recorded population was the 1990 Census count of 254,441. The 2020 Census counted 227,742, 90% of the peak. Census Bureau
2008
A thunderstorm in April 2008 did $60 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
Hail in March 2013 did $200 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
Hail in March 2013 did $75 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1969
27 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hinds County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Hinds County beside its neighbors
Hinds County scores higher than all six counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Hinds County ranks 5th of the seven; Claiborne County is highest, at 47.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yazoo County, MS | 98 | 25.5% | 34.5% |
| Claiborne County, MS | 98 | 33.3% | 47.1% |
| Hinds County, MS | 98 | 22.2% | 26.8% |
| Copiah County, MS | 96 | 19.5% | 35.8% |
| Warren County, MS | 88 | 18.8% | 28.2% |
| Rankin County, MS | 48 | 8.9% | 19.7% |
| Madison County, MS | 37 | 9.9% | 12.4% |
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 Hinds County the poorest county in Mississippi?
No, Hinds County's poverty rate was 22.2% in 2024, 24th 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, Hinds County ranks 14th of 82 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hinds 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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Housing Education and Economic Development, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Mississippi Faith Based Coalition for Community Renewal, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Mississippi Housing Partnership, 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.
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 Hinds County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.