Housing decision brief
Leake County, MS Housing Market
Leake County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
36th lowest home value out of 82 Mississippi counties with data | 39th lowest rent out of 82
Median home value
$116,800
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$765/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$539/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.3x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
24.7%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$226/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$116,800 median home value is 4% below Mississippi county median
Lower rent
$765/mo is 1% below Mississippi county median
Rent burden below pressure line
24.70% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $226/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Health context
Health score is 10.8 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Leake County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $116,800 | $122,250 | $281,900 | Near state median4% below Mississippi county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $765 | $776 | $1,163 | Near state median1% below Mississippi county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $539 | $635 | $1,672 | 15% favorable15% below Mississippi county median |
Median household income | $50,728 | $49,518 | $74,755 | Near state median2% above Mississippi county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.67% | 0.69% | 1.02% | Near state median4% below Mississippi county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 24.70% | 29.00% | N/A | 15% favorable24.70% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$20,128
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$27,628
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Leake County offers affordable rental housing at a median of $757/month , about 18.8% of the typical household income here.
Rent vs own
Renters in Leake County pay $757/month on average, compared to $585/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 23%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $30,280/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $25,071/year. With a median household income of $48,418, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 27.0% of renter households in Leake County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Leake County sits 7% more expensive than Franklin County ($706/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copiah County, MS | $114,100 | $766/mo | Same-state comparison near $114,100 home value and $766/mo rent. |
| Monroe County, MS | $120,800 | $768/mo | Same-state comparison near $120,800 home value and $768/mo rent. |
| Perry County, MS | $124,000 | $755/mo | Same-state comparison near $124,000 home value and $755/mo rent. |
| Tippah County, MS | $124,100 | $790/mo | Same-state comparison near $124,100 home value and $790/mo rent. |
| Walthall County, MS | $126,600 | $790/mo | Same-state comparison near $126,600 home value and $790/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Leake County
Is Leake County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Leake County?
How much income do you need for housing in Leake County?
What should I double-check before moving to Leake County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.