CountyScore

Leake County

Mississippi · MS

#43 in Mississippi
67.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Leake County, Mississippi

Solid livability above national norm

Leake County scores 67.4 out of 100, placing it 34 percentile points above the national median and in the upper half of American counties. This reflects balanced, above-average livability across most dimensions.

Virtually matches Mississippi average

Leake County's score of 67.4 is nearly identical to Mississippi's state average of 67.5, placing it squarely in the middle tier of the state's counties. This positioning represents fairly typical livability for Mississippi.

Housing affordability and low taxes

Leake County shines in cost with a score of 86.0, featuring median rents of $757/month and home values of $114,600. Its tax score of 83.2 reflects an effective rate of 0.676%, among the lowest in this group.

Income and health below peers

The county's income score of 15.0 corresponds to a median household income of $48,418, limiting economic opportunity. Its health score of 51.8 is modest, and risk score of 44.3 suggests moderate exposure to environmental or economic vulnerabilities.

Good fit for budget-first families

Leake County appeals to families and individuals prioritizing low housing costs and minimal tax burden over higher incomes or premium healthcare. It's a sensible choice for remote workers and retirees seeking affordability in rural Mississippi.

Score breakdown

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

Tax83.2Cost86SafetyComing SoonHealth51.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome15Risk44.3WaterComing Soon
🏛83.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠86
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼15
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤51.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡44.3
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 Leake County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Faulkner County
Arkansas
67.4
Median income: $65,071
Randolph County
Georgia
67.4
Median income: $25,425
Talbot County
Georgia
67.4
Median income: $45,098
Fayette County
Illinois
67.4
Median income: $57,113
Hancock County
Illinois
67.4
Median income: $65,044

Deep Dives

Leake County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Leake County

via TaxByCounty

Leake County taxes well below US average

Leake County's effective tax rate of 0.676% is roughly one-quarter the national median of 2.6%, ranking as a low-tax jurisdiction nationally. The median annual property tax of $775 is just 29% of the national median of $2,690.

Below state average with low bills

Leake County's 0.676% effective rate falls below Mississippi's 0.743% state average, positioning it favorably for tax relief. The median property tax of $775 significantly underperforms the state median of $931.

Lower-tax area in regional context

Leake County's 0.676% effective rate is below the regional sample average, making it an affordable option. The median home value of $114,600 and modest rate produce the region's lower tax bills at $775.

Median home: roughly $775 yearly

A homeowner with the county's median-valued property of $114,600 pays approximately $775 annually in property taxes. Those with mortgages pay $1,225, while owners without mortgages pay $621.

Even low taxes deserve review

Many Mississippi homeowners overpay because their properties are assessed above market value. If your county appraisal seems high compared to recent sales prices, you may qualify for a tax appeal that could lower your bill.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Leake County

via CostByCounty

Balanced affordability on modest income

Leake County's 18.8% rent-to-income ratio sits just below Mississippi's 19.6% state average, offering solid affordability to renters earning $48,418 annually. The $757 median monthly rent consumes less than one-fifth of household income, keeping Leake County competitive with national affordability standards despite below-average earnings.

Near-average affordability for rural county

Leake County ranks slightly above Mississippi's state average for housing affordability, with an 18.8% rent-to-income ratio compared to 19.6% statewide. The $757 median rent nearly matches the state average of $782, creating balanced housing costs relative to the modest local income of $48,418.

Middle-ground rents among peer counties

Leake County renters pay $757 monthly—more affordable than Lauderdale ($897) and Lawrence ($835), but pricier than Kemper ($470) and Jefferson Davis ($695). This middle positioning reflects Leake County's moderate economic profile, sitting between the region's poorest and most prosperous counties.

Renters and owners share light burden

The typical Leake County renter allocates $757 of a $4,035 monthly income to housing, consuming 18.8% of earnings and leaving healthy spending power for other needs. Homeowners with $585 monthly mortgages face an even lighter burden at 14.5%, making Leake County accessible to both renters and modest-income buyers.

Solid affordability without extreme tradeoffs

Leake County offers a practical middle ground for relocators—better affordability than Lafayette or Lamar counties without sacrificing all economic opportunity. If you seek rural Mississippi affordability without the income constraints of Lawrence County, Leake County merits serious comparison with neighboring alternatives.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Leake County

via IncomeByCounty

Income approaches state baseline, trails nation

Leake County's median household income of $48,418 represents 65% of the national median of $74,755, reflecting the income constraints typical of rural Mississippi counties. The $26,337 gap underscores limited access to high-wage employment sectors relative to national economic hubs.

Close to state average, middle-tier rank

At $48,418, Leake County nearly matches Mississippi's state average of $48,514, performing slightly below baseline by just $96. This alignment places the county in the middle band of the state's 82 counties by household income.

Solid middle-ground position regionally

Leake County's $48,418 exceeds lower-income peers like Lawrence County ($43,368), Kemper County ($43,595), and Jefferson Davis County ($37,183), while trailing Jones County ($51,143) and stronger performers Lafayette and Lamar counties. The county occupies solid regional middle ground.

Balanced housing affordability supports stability

The median home value of $114,600 and rent-to-income ratio of 18.8% indicate manageable housing costs that leave reasonable income for other essentials. The favorable ratio suggests Leake households enjoy better housing affordability relative to their earnings compared to many state peers.

Build on affordability advantage

Leake County's balanced housing costs create opportunity for households to save and invest beyond basic survival expenses. Focus on automated retirement contributions, education savings, and gradual asset accumulation while seeking professional financial advice to maximize long-term security.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Leake County

via HealthByCounty

Leake faces double uninsured challenge

Leake County residents live to 71.2 years, slightly above Mississippi's state average of 70.9 years but well below the U.S. average of 76.1 years. At 27.4% reporting poor or fair health and 15.8% uninsured—the highest uninsured rate in this entire profile—the county faces compounding health and access barriers.

Highest uninsured rate in eight-county profile

Leake County's 15.8% uninsured rate substantially exceeds Mississippi's state average of 13.9%, meaning roughly 1 in 6 residents lack health coverage. Combined with the highest poor health report rate tied at 27.4%, Leake residents face acute dual challenges of poor health and limited insurance access.

Tied for worst health, fewest mental providers

Leake's 27.4% poor health rate ties Lawrence for the worst in the region, while its life expectancy of 71.2 years ranks near the bottom. The county's severe shortage of mental health providers at just 9 per 100K is the lowest in the region, potentially contributing to untreated mental health crises.

Uninsured crisis drives healthcare barriers

Leake County's 15.8% uninsured rate—highest in this analysis—leaves roughly 6,000+ residents without coverage to access the county's 24 primary care and 9 mental health providers per 100K. The combination of high uninsured rates and severe mental health provider shortages creates a crisis for residents in mental health distress.

Enrollment is urgent in Leake County

With nearly 1 in 6 Leake residents uninsured and mental health resources critically scarce, immediate enrollment in Medicaid or marketplace coverage is essential for your family's health and wellbeing. Apply for coverage today—don't let cost or paperwork delay getting the protection your family deserves.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Leake County

via RiskByCounty

Leake County faces moderate national risk

With a composite risk score of 55.69 and a Relatively Low rating, Leake County ranks slightly above the national average for natural disaster exposure. The county's tornado (77.89) and hurricane (81.77) risks drive its overall profile into the moderate range.

Slightly above Mississippi's average risk

Leake County's 55.69 composite score sits just above Mississippi's 50.94 average, placing it in the state's moderate-risk tier. Tornado and hurricane exposure particularly distinguish Leake from lower-risk counties statewide.

Moderate risk in balanced regional context

Leake County's 55.69 score falls between safer peers like Lawrence County (25.00) and Kemper County (14.92) and higher-risk areas like Lafayette County (64.44) and Lamar County (64.98). The county represents a middle ground for natural disaster exposure in central Mississippi.

Tornadoes and hurricanes pose primary threats

Tornado risk dominates at 77.89, followed by hurricane risk at 81.77—both well above state averages and reflecting Leake County's position in a severe weather corridor. Earthquake risk (63.20) and flood risk (45.29) provide secondary hazard concerns.

Invest in storm preparedness and coverage

Leake County residents should develop household tornado plans and maintain emergency supplies year-round given the 77.89 tornado risk. Pair comprehensive wind and flood insurance with periodic property inspections to address vulnerabilities before severe weather strikes.

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.