CountyScore

Issaquena County

Mississippi · MS

#4 in Mississippi
73.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Issaquena County, Mississippi

Top performer 48% above national median

Issaquena County leads with a score of 73.7 out of 100, placing it in the top 20% of U.S. counties and nearly 48% above the national median of 50.0. This represents exceptional livability by any standard.

Mississippi's highest-scoring county

Issaquena's 73.7 score significantly exceeds Mississippi's state average of 67.5, ranking it among the very best in the state. The county stands as a livability leader within Mississippi.

Unbeatable tax burden and housing costs

Issaquena's defining advantage is its ultra-low tax rate of 0.346% (score: 92.5) and extraordinary housing affordability (96.1) with rent at just $253/month and median home value of $90,700. These exceptional metrics drive the county's overall strength.

Minimal income growth opportunities exist

With an income score of just 2.5 and median household income of $29,271, Issaquena offers little local earning potential. Residents must depend on external income sources or limited local employment.

Perfect for retirees prioritizing cost minimization

Issaquena County is ideally suited for retirees and those with fixed or remote income seeking the absolute lowest cost of living in Mississippi. The combination of minimal taxes and rock-bottom housing makes it unmatched for those optimizing pure affordability.

Score breakdown

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

Tax92.5Cost96.1SafetyComing SoonHealth42.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome2.5Risk92WaterComing Soon
🏛92.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠96.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼2.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤42.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡92
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 Issaquena County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Pickens County
Alabama
73.7
Median income: $47,014
Montgomery County
Arkansas
73.7
Median income: $49,015
Pike County
Arkansas
73.7
Median income: $51,000
Union County
Florida
73.7
Median income: $64,922
Valley County
Idaho
73.7
Median income: $76,125

Deep Dives

Issaquena County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Issaquena County

via TaxByCounty

Issaquena's tax rate is exceptionally low

Issaquena County's effective tax rate of just 0.346% ranks among the lowest in the entire nation, far below the 1.1% national median. The median property tax of $314 is roughly one-ninth the national median of $2,690.

Mississippi's most tax-friendly county

Issaquena County's 0.346% rate is less than half Mississippi's 0.743% state average, making it by far the lowest-taxing county in the state. This historic pattern reflects the county's fiscal structure and service-delivery model.

Less than third of nearby county rates

Issaquena County's 0.346% rate is less than one-third of Humphreys County's 1.104% just miles away. Even compared to Holmes County's 0.908%, Issaquena residents pay less than 40% of the tax burden.

Median homeowner pays just $314 yearly

On Issaquena County's median home value of $90,700, the typical homeowner pays only about $314 per year in property taxes. This extraordinarily low burden is unique even by Mississippi standards.

Even low assessments deserve review

Even though Issaquena's rates are exceptionally low, homeowners should still verify their assessments are accurate and fairly reflect property values. A successful challenge could provide modest savings while ensuring fairness in local tax administration.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Issaquena County

via CostByCounty

Issaquena's rents are strikingly low

Issaquena County's 10.4% rent-to-income ratio is exceptional—less than half Mississippi's 19.6% state average and one of the nation's most affordable housing ratios. Median rent of just $253 monthly, paired with median household income of $29,271, signals a sparsely populated rural county where housing is remarkably cheap but economic opportunity is limited.

Issaquena: cheapest rents in Mississippi

At $253 monthly median rent, Issaquena County undercuts every comparison county and runs 68% below Mississippi's $782 state average. The resulting 10.4% rent-to-income ratio is among the lowest in the state, making this tiny Delta county an outlier in affordability.

Holmes costs 2.3× more than Issaquena

Issaquena's $253 median rent is stunningly low compared to Holmes County ($589, 2.3× higher) and Humphreys County ($643, 2.5× higher). This extreme affordability reflects Issaquena's sparse population and limited housing demand rather than robust income—median earnings of $29,271 are comparable to Holmes.

Extraordinarily cheap housing, limited jobs

Renters spend just $253 monthly while homeowners pay $548, with median home value at $90,700 and median income at $29,271 annually. Rent consumes only 10.4% of gross income—well below any affordability standard—but this reflects an extremely limited and economically struggling local labor market.

Ultra-cheap housing for remote workers

Issaquena County offers extraordinary rental affordability at $253 monthly, among the lowest in America, making it ideal for remote workers or retirees unbothered by isolation. However, sparse population and minimal local job growth mean this county works only for those with income independent of local employment.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Issaquena County

via IncomeByCounty

Issaquena's Income Crisis

Issaquena County's median household income of $29,271 falls 61% short of the U.S. median of $74,755, among the nation's lowest. The $45,484 gap reflects deep poverty and severe economic constraints across the county.

Mississippi's Poorest County

Issaquena County ranks at the absolute bottom of Mississippi's income ladder at $29,271, 40% below the state median of $48,514. This extreme shortfall underscores the county's profound economic crisis and dependence on limited agricultural and public employment.

Tied for Lowest in Region

Issaquena County's median income of $29,271 essentially matches Holmes County ($29,434), the region's other lowest earner. All neighboring counties, including Humphreys County ($32,976) and Jefferson County ($36,207), earn noticeably more, highlighting Issaquena's isolated economic distress.

Housing Affordable, Survival Challenging

Issaquena County's rent-to-income ratio of 10.4% is the nation's lowest, reflecting extraordinarily cheap housing at median values of $90,700. However, per capita income of only $13,843 signals that most residents live far below the poverty line, making basic survival—not wealth building—the pressing concern.

Seek Immediate Financial Assistance

Issaquena County residents facing median household income of $29,271 should prioritize accessing SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid benefits before considering wealth-building strategies. Connect with local nonprofits and credit counseling services; even modest financial stability is a prerequisite for long-term security.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Issaquena County

via HealthByCounty

Issaquena County data reflects extreme isolation

While life expectancy data is unavailable for Issaquena, the 30.1% poor/fair health rate ranks among the highest, approaching rates seen in the state's most stressed communities. The 22.9% uninsured rate is the highest among these eight counties—more than 4 percentage points above state average.

Issaquena's uninsured rate stands out critically

At 22.9%, Issaquena County's uninsured rate is the highest of any county examined here and 9 percentage points above Mississippi's state average of 13.9%. The 30.1% poor/fair health rate suggests residents face significant health challenges.

Rural isolation with minimal documented resources

Primary care and mental health provider data for Issaquena are not available, reflecting either a complete absence or extreme scarcity of documented providers. This rural county likely relies on informal care networks and distant regional health systems.

Coverage crisis compounds isolation challenges

Nearly 1 in 4 Issaquena residents (22.9%) are uninsured—a crisis-level rate that forces delayed or foregone care. The combination of extreme poverty, geographic isolation, and lack of documented healthcare infrastructure creates barriers few residents can overcome.

Prioritize coverage in an underserved area

Getting insured in Issaquena is critical when local services are scarce—it enables care-seeking beyond county lines. Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to explore Medicaid and marketplace plans; community health centers may offer sliding-scale services.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Issaquena County

via RiskByCounty

Issaquena County faces minimal national disaster risk

Issaquena County's composite risk score of 7.98 ranks among the very safest communities in the nation for natural disasters—84% below Mississippi's state average of 50.94. The county's remote location and sparse development create exceptionally low exposure across all hazard categories.

Mississippi's safest community

Issaquena County ranks as the lowest-risk county in Mississippi by a substantial margin, with exposure far below every other state community. Residents face genuinely minimal natural disaster risk compared to virtually any other Mississippi location.

Safest in an already-safe region

Issaquena County's score of 7.98 makes it even safer than nearby Humphreys County (27.93) and Washington County, positioning it as the Delta's safest community. The region's low-elevation landscape and limited infrastructure mean residents face exceptionally limited hazard exposure.

Hurricane exposure dominates minimal risk profile

Even in Issaquena County's very-low-risk environment, hurricane risk (60.53) emerges as the largest hazard component, though still well below typical national exposure. Tornado (29.42), earthquake (37.21), and flood (10.18) risks all remain minimal for county residents.

Basic preparedness suffices for safety

Issaquena County's exceptional safety profile means residents can focus on straightforward preparedness: a basic emergency kit and awareness of hurricane season. Standard homeowners insurance typically provides adequate protection in this community with minimal natural disaster exposure.

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.