CountyScore

Perry County

Mississippi · MS

#9 in Mississippi
71.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Perry County, Mississippi

Perry Tops the National Livability Scale

Perry County scores 71.7, the highest in this eight-county group and 21.7 points above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 67th percentile nationally. This exceptional ranking affirms Perry's strong livability standing across the entire United States.

Clear Leader Among Mississippi Peers

Perry's 71.7 score significantly outpaces Mississippi's 67.5 average by 4.2 points, making it the top performer among these eight counties. The county represents Mississippi's livability at its best.

Unmatched Affordability and Economic Stability

Perry excels with the highest cost score (89.7)—lowest median rent ($650/month) and homes at $126,000—plus exceptional risk management (80.5). Combined with strong tax efficiency (81.1), Perry delivers the group's most reliable financial foundation.

Income Growth Remains Limited

Perry's income score of 16.3 and median household income of $50,435 represent the county's only real constraint. Growth potential is modest compared to the county's housing affordability advantages.

Ideal for Families Seeking Maximum Value

Perry County is the top choice for families and individuals seeking the strongest combination of affordability, stability, and economic security. It's perfect for those building wealth through homeownership and long-term financial planning on modest-to-moderate incomes.

Score breakdown

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

Tax81.1Cost89.7SafetyComing SoonHealth54SchoolsComing SoonIncome16.3Risk80.5WaterComing Soon
🏛81.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠89.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼16.3
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤54
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡80.5
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 Perry County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Yakutat City and Borough
Alaska
71.7
Median income: $80,625
Howard County
Arkansas
71.7
Median income: $44,492
Monroe County
Arkansas
71.7
Median income: $43,955
Montrose County
Colorado
71.7
Median income: $66,072
Lawrence County
Indiana
71.7
Median income: $65,551

Deep Dives

Perry County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Perry County

via TaxByCounty

Perry County taxes run below average

Perry County's effective tax rate of 0.752% sits below the national median of roughly 0.95%, placing it in the lower-tax half nationally. Homeowners here benefit from a meaningful tax advantage compared to most U.S. counties.

Mid-tier for Mississippi

At 0.752%, Perry's effective rate runs 1.2% below Mississippi's 0.743% state average, ranking it among the lower-tax counties statewide. The county's median tax of $947 sits just above the state median of $931.

Competitive with region

Perry's 0.752% rate undercuts Montgomery (0.896%) and Neshoba (0.886%) while sitting between Panola (0.769%) and Newton (0.799%) regionally. It avoids the extreme burden of Noxubee (1.011%) and stays above Pearl River's low of 0.677%.

Modest annual tax on median home

On Perry's median home value of $126,000, homeowners pay approximately $947 per year—or roughly $79 monthly. With a mortgage, escrow payments typically total around $1,280 annually.

Double-check your assessment value

Perry County residents should verify their assessment accuracy by comparing their assessed value to recent sales of similar homes in the neighborhood. Filing a reassessment appeal is straightforward and can save hundreds if your property is overvalued.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Perry County

via CostByCounty

Perry County delivers exceptional affordability

Perry County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.5% is the best in this eight-county comparison and substantially beats the national average. With a median household income of $50,435 and median rent at just $650, residents here spend the smallest share of income on housing.

Perry ranks among Mississippi's most affordable

At 15.5%, Perry County's rent-to-income ratio decisively beats Mississippi's state average of 19.6%, making it one of the state's genuinely affordable counties. The median rent of $650 is among the lowest in this comparison, yet paired with solid median income of $50,435.

The most affordable in the regional cluster

Perry's $650 rent is cheaper than all neighboring counties in this comparison, trailing only Noxubee's $590—but Perry pairs this with higher median income ($50,435 vs. $38,814). Perry offers the best balance of low rents and reasonable earning potential.

Perry's housing math is exceptional

Households earn $50,435 annually and pay just $650 in median rent—15.5% of income, the lowest burden in this entire comparison. Homeowners enjoy even greater relief at $474 monthly, with a median home value of $126,000 offering genuine path to ownership.

Perry offers unbeatable housing value

Perry County delivers Mississippi's best combination: affordable $650 rent, reasonable $50,435 median income, and a 15.5% housing burden that leaves substantial resources for other needs. If cost-effective housing with decent earning potential matters, Perry stands alone among these eight counties.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Perry County

via IncomeByCounty

Perry lags nation's income by 33%

Perry County's median household income of $50,435 reaches 67% of the national median of $74,755, a gap typical of rural counties in the Southeast. The county's income reflects limited high-wage employment and reliance on smaller-scale businesses and agriculture.

Nearly matches Mississippi average

At $50,435, Perry County exceeds Mississippi's state median of $48,514 by about 4%, placing it in the middle tier of the state's 82 counties. The county's per capita income of $25,950 falls slightly below the state average of $27,136.

Solid middle-income performer

Perry County's $50,435 median nearly matches Newton County ($50,426) and trails Neshoba County ($53,087) by just $2,652. The county outpaces Montgomery County ($45,057), Noxubee County ($38,814), and Panola County ($43,990).

Lowest housing burden in cohort

Perry County's 15.5% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest among these eight counties, indicating strong housing affordability. The median home value of $126,000 is accessible to families earning near the county median, with substantial equity-building potential.

Build on housing affordability

Perry County's unusually low housing cost burden—just 15.5% of income—frees up cash for savings and investments. Maximize this advantage by automating transfers to savings accounts and exploring employer retirement plans; local libraries often host free financial literacy workshops.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Perry County

via HealthByCounty

Life expectancy below nation, improvement possible

Perry County residents reach 70.4 years on average, trailing the U.S. median of 76.1 years by 5.7 years. More than one in four (26.8%) report fair or poor health, approximately 50% higher than the national 18% benchmark, pointing to untreated chronic disease and delayed preventive care.

Slightly below state average, lowest uninsured rate

Perry's 70.4-year life expectancy falls 0.5 years below Mississippi's 70.9-year state average, placing it near the middle of this eight-county set. Its 13.2% uninsured rate matches Newton County's and trails the state average, suggesting stronger insurance uptake than several neighbors.

Peer outcomes, critical provider shortage

Perry's 70.4-year life expectancy aligns with Panola (70.5 years) and Pearl River (70.7 years), yet the county faces the region's most severe primary care shortage at just 9 providers per 100,000—tying Noxubee as the worst in this analysis. Mental health capacity at 88 per 100,000 is modest but adequate.

Fewest primary care doctors in analysis

Perry County operates with just 9 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents—the lowest in this eight-county set—forcing many to travel for routine care or skip checkups entirely. Though 13.2% uninsured is relatively low, those with insurance still struggle to find appointments, creating bottlenecks that delay diagnosis and treatment.

Coverage helps navigate scarce providers

Perry's low uninsured rate (13.2%) shows many have made smart choices, but if you lack coverage, health insurance through Mississippi's marketplace or Medicaid is essential to maximize access to the few primary care doctors available. Visit healthcare.gov or your county health department to explore plans tailored to your household income.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Perry County

via RiskByCounty

Perry ranks among safest U.S. counties

Perry's composite score of 19.50 with Very Low rating places it well below typical American county risk exposure. Your community enjoys substantially lower natural disaster threat than most U.S. locations.

Among Mississippi's safest counties

At 19.50, Perry ranks well below Mississippi's 50.94 state average, placing it among the state's lowest-risk communities. Your county benefits from relatively protected status within Mississippi.

Safer than all surrounding counties

Perry (19.50) ranks lower in risk than every adjacent county including Panola (69.21), Neshoba (58.27), and Newton (52.45). Only Montgomery (10.91) achieves comparable safety levels in the region.

Wildfire and hurricane represent secondary concerns

Despite your low overall score, wildfire (70.61) and hurricane (80.68) rank as your highest individual hazards, though they remain regional outliers. Tornado exposure at 44.27 and flood at 23.60 pose minimal threat.

Standard homeowners insurance provides solid base

Your Very Low risk rating means basic homeowners coverage adequately protects against your area's modest hazard profile. Given your wildfire score of 70.61, ensure your policy covers brush and debris removal, and maintain defensible space around your home.

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.