About one in four people in Mississippi County, Missouri, has a disability
In Mississippi County, 26.9% of people reported a disability (Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024). That is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 98% of U.S. counties.
What drives Mississippi County's score
In Mississippi County, collections and bankruptcy weighs most: the score for collections and bankruptcy is 89.4. About two in five people with a credit file (39.9%, August 2025) have unpaid debt sent to a collector, a higher share than in 94% of U.S. counties. Income and the safety net comes next, at 88.0.
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.
Mississippi County is worse off than the typical U.S. county on every measure in the score.
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Mississippi 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.
- 89.4 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector39.9% · August 202594th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people245.3 · 202584th percentile
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- 88.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line27.8% · 202487th percentile
- People with a disability26.9% · 2020 to 202495th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$44,755 · 202495th percentile
- People below the poverty line21.0% · 202489th percentile
- People without health insurance10.9% · 2020 to 202472nd percentile
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- 87.9 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 income25.8% · fiscal year 202786th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent25.9% · 2020 to 202489th percentile
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- 81.9 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working25.1% · 2020 to 202474th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average5.6% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202689th percentile
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- 81.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind9.1% · August 202588th percentile
- People with a credit card behind6.6% · August 202567th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score34.5% · Q4 202586th 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 Mississippi 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
Mississippi County
Missouri
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Mississippi County in 2024, pay from work was 47 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 12 cents. Benefit checks were 41 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 20 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Mississippi County, benefit checks rose from 20 to 41 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Mississippi County, Missouri: 40.7% and 47.4% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 40.7% of all personal income in Mississippi County, Missouri (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 Mississippi County, 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Mississippi County has changed
The number of people living in Mississippi County fell by about three in 10 between 1969 and 2024, from 17,148 to 11,750. The number of jobs located there fell by about three in 10 from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 10.2% in 1990 to 6.1% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 17,148 | 2024 11,750 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 4,116 | 2024 3,074 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 10.2% | 2025 6.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 28.7% | 2024 21.0% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $16,879 | 2024 $44,755 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 20.4% | 2024 40.7% |
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 Mississippi County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 1940 Census count of 23,149. The 2020 Census counted 12,577, 54% of the peak. Census Bureau
1845
Officially organized on February 14, 1845. Wikipedia
1900
Virgin forests attracted timber barons at the turn of the 20th century. Wikipedia
1981
Tornado: $25 million in property damage, one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
Flash flood: $150 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Mississippi County, 18 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Mississippi County beside its neighbors
Mississippi County scores higher than all seven counties that border it, in Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois. For the share of income from benefit checks, Mississippi County ranks 3rd of the eight; Alexander County is highest, at 53.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi County, MO | 98 | 21.0% | 40.7% |
| Fulton County, KY | 96 | 23.9% | 47.0% |
| New Madrid County, MO | 90 | 19.1% | 32.5% |
| Alexander County, IL | 88 | 24.8% | 53.2% |
| Scott County, MO | 66 | 13.5% | 32.5% |
| Ballard County, KY | 62 | 15.9% | 29.1% |
| Hickman County, KY | 57 | 18.9% | 35.3% |
| Carlisle County, KY | 53 | 13.9% | 26.1% |
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 Mississippi County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Mississippi County's poverty rate was 21.0% in 2024, 7th highest of 115 in Missouri (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Dunklin County, at 25.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Mississippi County ranks 2nd of 115 in the state.
Mississippi County in photographs
Places in Mississippi County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Front of the Mississippi County Courthouse, located at 200 N.
The Mississippi River, viewed from Columbus-Belmont State Park near Columbus, Kentucky, United States.
Mississippi County, Missouri: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Mississippi County, Missouri?
21.0% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in five people. Among children it was 27.8%.
Is Mississippi County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Mississippi County's poverty rate was 21.0% in 2024, 7th highest of 115 in Missouri (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Dunklin County, at 25.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Mississippi County ranks 2nd of 115 in the state.
What is the population of Mississippi County, Missouri?
About 11,750 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 12,577, half the county's peak of 23,149 in 1940.
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 Mississippi 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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The Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,311 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.