Housing decision brief
Pike County, MS Housing Market
Pike County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, 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 | 62nd lowest rent out of 82
Median home value
$110,500
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$879/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$618/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.7x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
29.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$261/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
$110,500 median home value is 4% below Mississippi county median
Rent burden below pressure line
29.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $261/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$41,578 median income is 14% below Mississippi county median
Health context
Health score is 8.8 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
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- 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 Pike 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. | $110,500 | $114,900 | $281,900 | Near state median4% below Mississippi county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $879 | $756 | $1,163 | 16% pressure16% above Mississippi county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $618 | $615 | $1,672 | Near state medianAt the Mississippi county median |
Median household income | $41,578 | $48,207 | $74,755 | 14% pressure14% below Mississippi county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.93% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 7% favorable7% below Mississippi county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 29.00% | 29.00% | N/A | Near state median29.00% 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
+$6,418
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$15,092
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Pike County is moderately affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $879/month representing approximately 25.4% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 29.0%.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Pike County is $879/month, while owner costs run $618/month. Owning saves approximately $261/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $35,160/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $26,486/year. With a median household income of $41,578, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 29.0% of renter households in Pike County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within Mississippi, Pike County is more affordable than Grenada County by roughly 7% ($879/mo vs $823/mo).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County, MS | $104,600 | $835/mo | Same-state comparison near $104,600 home value and $835/mo rent. |
| Panola County, MS | $121,500 | $859/mo | Same-state comparison near $121,500 home value and $859/mo rent. |
| Benton County, MS | $109,300 | $729/mo | Same-state comparison near $109,300 home value and $729/mo rent. |
| Clarke County, MS | $114,300 | $803/mo | Same-state comparison near $114,300 home value and $803/mo rent. |
| Washington County, MS | $99,300 | $786/mo | Same-state comparison near $99,300 home value and $786/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Pike County
Is Pike County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Pike County?
How much income do you need for housing in Pike County?
What should I double-check before moving to Pike County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.