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Lowndes County, MS

RANK #481 / 996  ·  POP 58,547  ·  MS

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.8%

Lowndes County's economy is holding up, but population decline raises questions about long-term trajectory.

[01] Why Lowndes County?

Lowndes County, Mississippi, is perhaps best known for Columbus, its county seat, a historic city that was home to playwright Tennessee Williams and briefly served as the state capital during the Civil War. Located on Mississippi's eastern border along the Tombigbee River, Columbus is part of the "Golden Triangle" region, approximately two hours from Birmingham, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi. The community offers a sparse suburban feel with a blend of historic charm, including antebellum homes and tree-lined streets. Outdoor recreation is available at Lake Lowndes State Park, which features a 150-acre lake for fishing and camping, along with hiking trails and sports facilities.

Life in Lowndes County offers a community-oriented atmosphere with a median age of 37.6 years. The public school system includes the Lowndes County School District, which serves towns like Caledonia, Crawford, and Artesia, and is considered highly rated. The local economy is influenced by institutions like Columbus Air Force Base and Mississippi University for Women. Recent economic developments have focused on attracting advanced manufacturing and aerospace industries, with investments in infrastructure to support these sectors.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
2.8x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+2.8%

Above national median

Home Prices
+0.9%

Below national median

Climate & Terrain
-0.1

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
10x

Strong rental yield

Housing looks undervalued at 2.8x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Lowndes County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
58,547
-0.61% YoY
Median Household Income
$53,687
Median Home Value
$155,300
+0.93% 12mo
Median Rent
$903
Average Annual Pay
$56,640
+4.0% YoY
Employment
25,486
+2.1% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3457
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.42%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$525,000
Days on Market
159
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.0
Balanced market
Listings w/ Price Drops
25.0%
Building Permits (2024)
130
Single-Family Permits
130

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$4,059M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Aluminum Dynamics Flat-Rolled Mill & Biocarbon Facility
Aluminum Dynamics Inc.
$2,500M Under Construction
New Caledonia Simple Cycle Combustion Turbine Plant
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
$800M Under Construction
Golden Triangle I & II Solar + Storage
Origis Energy
$500M Golden Triangle II: Operating, Golden Triangle I: Under Construction
PACCAR Engine Company Expansion
PACCAR Engine Company
$209M Under Construction
FedEx Ground Distribution Center
FedEx
$50M Completed

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.8% 52 percentile
Population Growth -0.6% 9 percentile
Income Growth +8.1% 39 percentile
Vacancy Rate 2.2% 6 percentile
Home Price Change +0.9% 44 percentile
Rent Growth +1.3% 25 percentile
Price/Rent 10x 93 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lowndes County, MS a good place to move to?

Lowndes County has a Boom Town Index score of 52/100, ranking #481 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.1% and a median household income of $53,687, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Lowndes County affordable?

The median home value in Lowndes County is $155,300 with median rent at $903/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3457, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Lowndes County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: -0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.1%. Home values changed +0.9% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Lowndes County?

Yes — 2.42% of Lowndes County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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