CountyScore

Panola County

Mississippi · MS

#66 in Mississippi
64.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Panola County, Mississippi

Panola Beats National Median Comfortably

Panola County scores 64.5, sitting 14.5 points above the national median of 50.0 and placing it in the 55th percentile of U.S. counties. This solid standing affirms above-average livability for a rural Mississippi county.

Below Average for Mississippi

Panola's 64.5 score falls 3.0 points below Mississippi's 67.5 average, ranking it in the lower half of the state's counties. The county lags slightly on livability compared to stronger Mississippi peers.

Efficient Taxes and Solid Affordability

Panola excels in tax efficiency (80.6) with a 0.769% effective rate and offers solid housing affordability (83.2) with median rent of $859 and homes at $121,500. These fundamentals provide residents with financial stability.

Risk and Income Profile Weaken Appeal

Panola's risk score of 30.8 ranks lowest in the group, signaling economic vulnerability for residents. Combined with income (12.1) and median household earnings of $43,990, the county presents limited economic growth prospects.

Suited for Stable, Tax-Conscious Residents

Panola County attracts people prioritizing low taxes and moderate housing costs over maximizing income or managing economic risk. Retirees with stable pensions and self-employed individuals seeking tax efficiency will find it appealing.

Score breakdown

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

Tax80.6Cost83.2SafetyComing SoonHealth52.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome12.1Risk30.8WaterComing Soon
🏛80.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠83.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼12.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤52.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡30.8
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 Panola 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

Panola County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Panola County

via TaxByCounty

Panola keeps taxes low nationally

Panola County's effective tax rate of 0.769% ranks in the lower half nationally, where homeowners typically pay roughly 0.95% of property value. This Mississippi county delivers a meaningful tax advantage compared to the nation as a whole.

Below Mississippi average

At 0.769%, Panola's effective rate runs 3.5% below Mississippi's 0.743% state average, making it one of the more affordable counties statewide. The county's median tax of $935 sits just above the state median of $931.

Lower than most regional peers

Panola's 0.769% rate undercuts Montgomery (0.896%) and Neshoba (0.886%), matching Oktibbeha (0.768%) while falling short only of Newton (0.799%) and Pearl River (0.677%) in the broader region. It avoids the extreme burden of Noxubee (1.011%).

Median tax near state average

On Panola's median home value of $121,500, residents pay approximately $935 annually—roughly $78 monthly. Those with mortgages typically see escrow payments totaling around $1,315 per year.

Request an assessment review

Panola County homeowners should periodically verify that their assessed values reflect current market conditions and recent comparable sales. A simple reassessment request could identify overvaluation and reduce your tax burden at no cost.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Panola County

via CostByCounty

Panola renters stretched thin

Panola County's rent-to-income ratio of 23.4% significantly exceeds the national average, placing renters here among the most burdened in this comparison. With a median household income of $43,990 and median rent at $859, housing consumes nearly a quarter of typical household income.

Above-average housing burden statewide

Panola's 23.4% rent-to-income ratio ranks among the worst in Mississippi, beating the state average of 19.6% only in absolute affordability terms—but the burden on residents is notably higher. The median rent of $859 sits $77 above the state median, reflecting stronger regional demand.

Premium pricing in north Mississippi

Panola's $859 rent is second-highest in this eight-county group, trailing only Oktibbeha's university-driven $873. Among comparable counties, Panola residents pay a north Mississippi premium without the economic draw of a major institution.

Housing dominates Panola budgets

Households earning $43,990 annually dedicate $859 monthly to rent—23.4% of income—leaving limited resources for other essentials. Homeowners pay $637 monthly, easing pressure for those who own, but the rental market creates genuine affordability stress for renters.

Panola: compare before committing

Panola's $859 median rent consumes 23.4% of the county's $43,990 median income—a higher burden than most regional alternatives. If relocating to north Mississippi, compare Panola against neighboring counties with better affordability ratios like Neshoba or Montgomery before deciding.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Panola County

via IncomeByCounty

Panola earns 41% below national median

Panola County's median household income of $43,990 sits roughly $31,000 below the national median of $74,755, placing it among lower-income rural counties nationwide. The gap reflects limited access to well-paying industries and employment concentration in agriculture and small businesses.

Below Mississippi's state median

At $43,990, Panola County trails Mississippi's state average of $48,514 by about 9%, ranking in the lower tier of the state's 82 counties. The county's per capita income of $24,616 also falls short of the state average of $27,136.

Lower earnings than most peers

Panola County's $43,990 median income trails Neshoba County ($53,087) by over $9,000 and lags Pearl River County ($56,535) significantly. It matches Oktibbeha County ($43,482) and exceeds only Noxubee County ($38,814) in this regional cluster.

Housing costs climb above comfort

Panola County's 23.4% rent-to-income ratio—the second-highest in the cluster—suggests housing costs squeeze household budgets, leaving limited room for other needs. The median home value of $121,500 represents a significant commitment for families earning the county median.

Prioritize debt management first

Panola County households should focus on reducing high-cost debt before investing, given the elevated housing-cost burden. Work with local credit counselors to optimize mortgage terms and explore first-time homebuyer assistance programs that might reduce your effective housing costs.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Panola County

via HealthByCounty

Life expectancy moderately below national average

Panola County residents reach 70.5 years on average, trailing the U.S. median of 76.1 years by 5.6 years. More than one in four (27.6%) report fair or poor health, nearly 50% higher than the national 18% average, suggesting persistent chronic disease and limited preventive care access.

Slightly below state average, moderate insured rate

Panola's 70.5-year life expectancy falls just shy of Mississippi's 70.9-year state average, marking a moderate outcome among the eight counties. Its 14.3% uninsured rate exceeds the state's 13.9%, meaning one in seven residents lack coverage to manage chronic conditions or access preventive services.

Middle performer in regional context

Panola's 70.5-year life expectancy ranks between the struggling Neshoba (66.5 years) and the exceptional Oktibbeha (75.2 years), with performance comparable to Pearl River (70.7 years). Its 21 primary care providers per 100,000 remain below ideal levels, and mental health capacity at 113 per 100,000 lags peer counties like Noxubee (222).

Modest provider capacity meets uninsured gap

Panola has 21 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 113 mental health specialists per 100,000—respectable but not robust compared to Oktibbeha or Noxubee. The 14.3% uninsured rate means thousands lack consistent access to these limited providers, forcing reliance on urgent care and emergency departments.

Health coverage unlocks available resources

Panola's 14.3% uninsured rate represents a direct barrier to the mental health and primary care capacity the county does offer—coverage is the key that unlocks it. Visit healthcare.gov or your local health department to explore Medicaid and marketplace plans; enrollment ensures you can access preventive services before conditions become emergencies.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Panola County

via RiskByCounty

Panola faces notable U.S. disaster exposure

Panola's 69.21 composite score earns a Relatively Low rating but indicates above-average natural hazard exposure for American counties. Your county experiences measurable risk from multiple natural disaster sources.

Higher risk than most Mississippi counties

At 69.21, Panola ranks well above Mississippi's 50.94 state average, placing it among the state's most hazard-exposed counties. Your community faces notably elevated natural disaster risk compared to typical Mississippi areas.

Riskiest in its immediate region

Panola (69.21) exceeds all nearby counties including Oktibbeha (62.79), Neshoba (58.27), Newton (52.45), and Perry (19.50). Your county ranks as one of northeastern Mississippi's most disaster-exposed communities.

Earthquake and tornado pose serious threats

Earthquake (90.90) represents your highest single hazard exposure, followed closely by tornado (87.85) and wildfire (63.42) risks. Your county faces a uniquely diverse natural disaster portfolio compared to most Mississippi locations.

Earthquake and storm coverage both essential

Panola's earthquake score of 90.90 makes earthquake insurance a strong priority alongside standard homeowners coverage. Your tornado risk of 87.85 demands robust wind and hail protection; develop a household emergency plan and know your nearest shelter locations.

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.