CountyScore

Bolivar County

Mississippi · MS

#64 in Mississippi
64.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Bolivar County, Mississippi

Bolivar County meets national standard

Bolivar County scores 64.5 on the composite index, placing it at the 65th percentile nationally and above the national median of 50.0. The county demonstrates livability competitive with the broader United States.

Slightly below Mississippi average

At 64.5, Bolivar County ranks just below the state average of 67.5, making it a middle-tier county within Mississippi. The score reflects some strengths but also notable challenges.

Exceptional affordability and housing access

Bolivar County excels in cost affordability at 86.2 with median home values of $123,600 and median rent of $671/month—the lowest among these eight counties. Tax efficiency of 80.4 adds to the affordability appeal.

Income and risk scores significantly lag

The income score of 7.8 with median household income of $37,315 is among the lowest, and the risk score of 23.2 is the weakest among these counties, indicating substantial environmental or economic vulnerabilities. Health outcomes at 52.2 are also concerning.

For those prioritizing extreme affordability

Bolivar County appeals to cost-minimizing residents and remote workers who can afford to accept income-limiting factors and environmental risks. The county's low housing and rental costs are attractive, but residents should carefully assess the elevated risk profile.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax80.4Cost86.2SafetyComing SoonHealth52.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome7.8Risk23.2WaterComing Soon
🏛80.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠86.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼7.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤52.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡23.2
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Bolivar County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Gila County
Arizona
64.5
Median income: $59,089
Washington County
Arkansas
64.5
Median income: $66,426
Del Norte County
California
64.5
Median income: $66,780
Elkhart County
Indiana
64.5
Median income: $65,617
Dallas County
Iowa
64.5
Median income: $102,349

Deep Dives

Bolivar County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Bolivar County

via TaxByCounty

Bolivar County taxes remain globally affordable

Bolivar County's 0.777% effective tax rate sits within national norms, but its $961 median property tax stays well below the $2,690 national median. This reflects Mississippi's lower home values: Bolivar's median of $123,600 compared to $281,900 nationwide.

Among Mississippi's higher county rates

Bolivar County's 0.777% effective rate exceeds Mississippi's state average of 0.743%, placing it in the upper tier statewide. The $961 median tax sits just 3% above the state median of $931, showing Bolivar residents shoulder slightly higher burdens locally.

Second-highest rate in this group

Bolivar County's 0.777% effective rate ranks second only to Adams County (0.885%) among these eight counties, making it a higher-burden area regionally. Only Alcorn County's 0.596% rate offers substantially better terms for property owners.

Median home generates $961 annual tax

On Bolivar County's median home value of $123,600, homeowners pay approximately $961 per year at the 0.777% effective rate. For mortgaged homes, escrow increases the annual bill to roughly $1,353.

Challenge inflated assessments to cut bills

In higher-tax Bolivar County, a successful assessment appeal can yield meaningful annual savings for homeowners. Request a free assessment review from the county assessor and, if warranted, file a formal appeal with supporting comparable sales data.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Bolivar County

via CostByCounty

Bolivar rents stress lower-income households

Bolivar County's 21.6% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Mississippi's 19.6% average, driven by the second-lowest median income in this group at $37,315. Renters here struggle more than most, despite modest rent of $671.

Below-average affordability in Mississippi

At 21.6%, Bolivar County ranks among the less affordable in Mississippi, trailing the state average by 2 percentage points. Income constraints, not high rents, drive this affordability gap—Bolivar's $671 rent is lowest in the peer group.

Bolivar's unique income-cost tension

Bolivar's $671 rent is the cheapest among peers, yet its 21.6% burden ratio exceeds all but Amite (23.4%), reflecting income of $37,315 that trails all neighbors except Amite. However, Bolivar's homeownership cost ($679/month) is the highest in this group—unusual pressure on buyers.

Bolivar's stretched housing math

Renters pay $671 monthly on median income of $37,315—roughly $3,110 monthly—while homeowners average $679. This leaves renters only $251 per month after rent and homeowners just $32 after ownership costs, among the tightest margins in the region.

Thinking about Bolivar County?

Bolivar's lowest rents ($671) appeal to renters on tight budgets, but homeownership costs ($679/month) run high relative to income, making buying risky here. Consider whether local employment aligns with your salary needs, or compare to higher-income counties like Carroll ($55,275) or Alcorn ($49,404) for better long-term stability.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Bolivar County

via IncomeByCounty

Bolivar County earns 50% of U.S. median

Bolivar County's median household income of $37,315 represents just 50% of the national median of $74,755—a gap of $37,440. The county ranks among the lowest-earning regions in the United States, signaling significant economic headwinds.

Below average throughout Mississippi

Bolivar County's median household income of $37,315 falls $11,199 below Mississippi's state average of $48,514. The per capita income of $25,359 exceeds state average by only $8,223, indicating limited wealth concentration and broad economic strain.

Struggles against regional competition

Bolivar County residents earn less than most peers, including Adams County ($40,250), Attala County ($48,098), and Alcorn County ($49,404). Only Amite County ($35,385) earns less, reflecting shared economic challenges in the Delta region.

Housing burden takes heavy toll

Bolivar County's rent-to-income ratio of 21.6% forces households to allocate roughly $672 monthly to rent from median income. The median home value of $123,600 is the highest in this cohort but remains difficult for low-income renters to access through homeownership.

Prioritize stability before investing

Bolivar County residents should focus on debt reduction and building 3–6 months of emergency savings before pursuing investments. Connect with nonprofit financial counseling, state workforce programs, and community development organizations to improve long-term financial security.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Bolivar County

via HealthByCounty

Bolivar County faces severe life expectancy crisis

Bolivar County's life expectancy of 67.0 years represents a public health emergency—more than 10 years below the U.S. average of 77.3 years. Nearly a quarter of residents (24.6%) report poor or fair health, and the gap to national standards points to deep systemic health inequities.

Lowest life expectancy in Mississippi sample

At 67.0 years, Bolivar County's life expectancy trails Mississippi's 70.9-year state average by 3.9 years—the worst performance in this eight-county analysis. The county requires urgent health system intervention and community-level disease prevention efforts.

Bolivar County stands apart in a struggling region

Bolivar County's 67.0-year life expectancy is drastically lower than every neighboring county in this analysis, including Benton County (70.7 years) and Attala County (71.0 years). The magnitude of this gap demands investigation into specific causes—cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infant mortality, or violence.

Moderate provider supply masks deeper barriers

Bolivar County has 50 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 93 mental health providers—reasonably robust supply that doesn't fully explain the life expectancy crisis. At 14.2% uninsured, coverage rates match state average, suggesting that access and quality issues run deeper than insurance gaps alone.

Coverage is essential; use it strategically

With 14.2% uninsured and a documented life expectancy crisis, Bolivar County residents must secure health coverage immediately through Mississippi's Health Marketplace or Medicaid and commit to preventive care. Coverage alone won't close a 10-year gap, but it opens doors to screenings, vaccinations, and chronic disease management that could save lives.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Bolivar County

via RiskByCounty

Bolivar County faces above-average national risk

Bolivar County scores 76.78 on the composite risk scale, placing it in the relatively low rating but well above the national average. This elevated score reflects significant and concentrated hazard exposure, particularly for flood and earthquake risks.

Mississippi's riskiest county by composition

Bolivar County's 76.78 score is the highest in Mississippi, nearly 50% above the state average of 50.94. This distinction reflects the county's precarious location in the Mississippi River Delta, where flood risk and seismic activity converge.

Dramatically riskier than all surrounding areas

Bolivar County's 76.78 score vastly exceeds all adjacent counties including Sunflower (moderate), Coahoma, and Sharkey counties. Its Delta location creates a singular environmental risk profile unmatched elsewhere in north-central Mississippi.

Floods and earthquakes define risk here

Flood risk peaks at 76.88—among the nation's highest—while earthquake risk reaches 92.18, an extraordinarily elevated score even for Mississippi. Tornado risk of 82.92 adds a third major threat, creating a hazard-rich environment across multiple categories.

Flood and earthquake insurance are essential

Given flood risk of 76.88 and earthquake risk of 92.18, Bolivar County residents must carry both separate flood insurance and earthquake coverage—standard homeowners policies exclude both. Verify that wind and tornado coverage is included, given the 82.92 tornado risk score.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.