CountyScore

Itawamba County

Mississippi · MS

#16 in Mississippi
70.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Itawamba County, Mississippi

Top-tier livability 41% above median

Itawamba County scores 70.5 out of 100, placing it in the top 30% of U.S. counties and 41% above the national median of 50.0. This solid performance ranks among the nation's more livable communities.

Exceeds Mississippi state average

Itawamba's 70.5 score surpasses Mississippi's state average of 67.5, positioning it in the upper tier of the state's 82 counties. The county ranks among Mississippi's stronger performers.

Balanced income, health, and affordability

Itawamba stands out with the highest median household income in this group at $59,508 (income score: 22.2), a health score of 60.5, and solid affordability (84.8) with median home value of $122,400. This balance makes it attractive for working families.

Risk profile shows moderate vulnerabilities

The county's risk score of 50.4 indicates moderate environmental or economic exposure, suggesting some headwinds relative to the state's safest counties. This remains the primary area for improvement.

Ideal for working families seeking stability

Itawamba County is best suited for employed families and young professionals seeking a balance of decent income potential, good health infrastructure, and reasonable housing costs. Its relative strength across multiple dimensions makes it Mississippi's most well-rounded choice.

Score breakdown

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

Tax84.4Cost84.8SafetyComing SoonHealth60.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome22.2Risk50.4WaterComing Soon
🏛84.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼22.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤60.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡50.4
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 Itawamba County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Franklin County
Alabama
70.5
Median income: $51,493
Lauderdale County
Alabama
70.5
Median income: $59,082
Holmes County
Florida
70.5
Median income: $48,236
Fayette County
Indiana
70.5
Median income: $56,659
Smith County
Kansas
70.5
Median income: $57,024

Deep Dives

Itawamba County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Itawamba County

via TaxByCounty

Itawamba taxes trail national average

Itawamba County's effective tax rate of 0.636% sits well below the national median of 1.1%, placing it in the bottom third nationwide. The median property tax of $779 is less than 30% of the national median of $2,690.

Below-average taxes for Mississippi

Itawamba County's 0.636% rate falls roughly 14% below Mississippi's state average of 0.743%. This makes it one of the more tax-friendly counties in the state for homeowners relative to property values.

Lower rates than Jasper and Itawamba

Itawamba County's 0.636% rate is modestly lower than Jasper County's 0.599%, though both rank among Mississippi's more affordable tax climates. The median tax burden here ($779) is roughly comparable to other northeast Mississippi counties.

Median homeowner pays $779 annually

On Itawamba County's median home value of $122,400, homeowners pay approximately $779 per year in property taxes. With a mortgage, the figure rises to about $912 annually with escrow included.

Challenge inflated assessments in Itawamba

If your home's assessed value doesn't reflect recent market conditions in northeast Mississippi, you can appeal through the county assessor. Successful appeals could reduce your annual tax bill by $100 to $300 or more.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Itawamba County

via CostByCounty

Itawamba strikes solid affordability balance

Itawamba County's 16.8% rent-to-income ratio runs well below Mississippi's 19.6% state average and reflects one of the region's healthier housing-cost scenarios. With median household income at $59,508—79% of the national median—and median rent at $832, Itawamba offers more balanced affordability than most Mississippi counties.

Itawamba ranks high in state affordability

Itawamba County's 16.8% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest among all comparison counties and well above Mississippi's 19.6% state average, signaling strong relative affordability. Median income of $59,508 is the second-highest in this cluster, providing real earning power alongside reasonable housing costs.

Higher income, lower rent burden

Itawamba's median income of $59,508 trails only Jackson County ($64,756) but its rent burden of 16.8% is the lightest in the region. At $832 monthly rent, Itawamba costs more than Holmes ($589) or Humphreys ($643) but far less than Hinds ($1,032) or Jackson ($1,087), while offering significantly stronger wages.

Incomes support moderate housing costs

Renters pay $832 monthly while homeowners face $565, with median home value at $122,400 and median household income at $59,508 annually. Housing costs consume just 16.8% of gross income for renters—well below the 30% affordability threshold—reflecting a county where wages keep pace with housing demand.

Best balance of income and affordability

Itawamba County offers one of Mississippi's strongest housing-affordability stories: respectable median income of $59,508 paired with a lean 16.8% rent-to-income ratio. This northeast Mississippi county suits households seeking real earning potential without extreme housing cost burdens.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Itawamba County

via IncomeByCounty

Itawamba Nears National Income Level

Itawamba County's median household income of $59,508 sits just 20% below the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it among Mississippi's stronger earners. The $15,247 gap is notably smaller than most state peers, signaling more robust local employment and wage opportunities.

Tops Most Mississippi Counties

At $59,508, Itawamba County exceeds Mississippi's state median of $48,514 by 23%, ranking in the state's upper quartile for household income. This strong performance reflects diversified employment, manufacturing presence, and skilled labor in the region.

Itawamba Leads Regional Income

Itawamba County's median income of $59,508 substantially outpaces most neighbors: Jasper County ($47,157), Hinds County ($49,966), and Humphreys County ($32,976). Only Jackson County ($64,756) earns notably more, making Itawamba a regional income leader.

Strong Income Supports Home Ownership

Itawamba County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.8% is well below the affordability threshold of 30%, indicating robust financial breathing room for renters. With median home values of $122,400 and median household income of $59,508, homeownership is highly accessible and sustainable.

Invest in Long-Term Growth

With median household income of $59,508, Itawamba County residents are well-positioned to save 10–15% for retirement and investment accounts. Maximize 401(k) matching, explore HSAs, and consider diversified index funds; building wealth at this income level creates compound returns over decades.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Itawamba County

via HealthByCounty

Itawamba County leads region in life expectancy

At 72.9 years, Itawamba County residents live nearly 3 years longer than the U.S. average of 76.1 years—wait, no—actually about 3.2 years shorter. Yet Itawamba outperforms most Mississippi peers: just 21.6% report poor or fair health, well below the national average of 18% for many similar counties.

Itawamba ranks among Mississippi's healthiest

At 72.9 years, Itawamba County's life expectancy exceeds Mississippi's state average of 70.9 years by 2 years, making it one of the state's strongest performers. The 21.6% poor/fair health rate is the lowest among these eight counties.

Rural county punches above its health weight

While Itawamba has just 17 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—a rural norm—the county's overall health outcomes suggest effective care use or strong community health factors. Mental health access at 33 per 100K is thin but adequate for a rural area.

Strong health with modest insurance coverage

Just 13.4% of Itawamba residents are uninsured, barely below the state average, yet the county achieves better-than-average life expectancy and health status. This suggests effective community health interventions or strong informal support networks beyond formal healthcare.

Build on your county's health momentum

Itawamba County's strong health outcomes show what's possible—and maintaining coverage is key to keeping that advantage. If uninsured, explore marketplace and Medicaid options at healthcare.gov to stay protected.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Itawamba County

via RiskByCounty

Itawamba County holds near-average national risk

Itawamba County's composite risk score of 49.62 places it as relatively low nationally, nearly identical to Mississippi's state average of 50.94. The county's exposure is typical for rural Mississippi, with moderate hazard diversity across regions.

Average risk across Mississippi

Itawamba County ranks squarely in the middle of Mississippi's disaster risk distribution, representing a typical county-level exposure profile for the state. Neither significantly safer nor more threatened than the average Mississippi community, the county embodies statewide hazard patterns.

Slightly riskier than most neighbors

Itawamba County's score of 49.62 edges slightly above many neighboring rural counties in northeast Mississippi, reflecting its moderate exposure across multiple hazard types. The county sits between the state's safest (Issaquena at 7.98) and riskiest (Jackson at 92.33) extremes.

Earthquakes and tornadoes pose dual threat

Earthquake risk (76.97) and tornado risk (66.41) both exceed the county composite score, making these the dominant hazards for Itawamba residents. These geological and weather-driven threats require distinct preparedness strategies, from structural reinforcement to storm shelters.

Prepare for earthquakes and severe weather

Itawamba County residents should prioritize earthquake-resistant home improvements—securing water heaters, securing heavy furniture, and reinforcing foundations—alongside tornado safety measures. Standard homeowners insurance covers most earthquake damage in Mississippi, but verify your policy explicitly includes this protection.

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.