Mississippi divides real property into classes, and an owner-occupied home is taxed on a smaller share of its true value than any other kind of real estate. County tax assessors set those values, and the county, the school district and the city, if the home is inside one, each apply their own millage.
The homestead exemption is what brings most bills down. It credits a set amount against the tax on an owner-occupied home, and the state reimburses local governments for most of it. Apply with the county tax assessor or clerk in the opening months of the year after you buy, bringing your deed and car registration to show the home is your residence. Owners who are older or totally disabled can claim an additional exemption that removes a larger amount of value.
Mississippi bills property tax in arrears, with the year’s tax due early in the following year. The seller credits you for the months they owned the home at closing, and your escrow account will pay the first full bill months after you move in. Many buyers are surprised by how small the bill is compared with neighboring states, but also by how much insurance costs on the coast.
The state has no transfer tax on deeds, and sale prices do not have to be disclosed, so the assessed value on a listing may not track recent sales. Gulf Coast buyers should price wind and flood coverage early, since the Mississippi windstorm underwriting association insures many homes the private market will not.
Property tax in Mississippi
The median Mississippi homeowner pays $1,215 a year in property tax on a home valued at $169,800, an effective rate of 0.7155% in the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year 2020-2024). That ranks the 19th lowest of the 50 states and DC, at or below the middle state's 0.8003%. At that rate each $100,000 of home value carries about $716 a year of tax, or $59.63 a month in the payment, and that rate is what the calculator above starts from.
Inside Mississippi the rate more than doubles from the cheapest county to the dearest. Among counties whose survey figures pass both quality checks, the effective rate runs from 0.4804% in Choctaw County to 1.1207% in Coahoma County. On a $169,800 home that gap is worth about $1,087 a year. Pick a county in the calculator to use its rate, or type the rate from a listing or a current tax bill.
The survey rate is what owners actually pay divided by what they say their homes are worth, with exemptions, caps and local levies folded in; it will not match any rate printed in Mississippi law. Ask for the seller's latest bill and the assessed value too, since a new owner's assessment can differ from the long-held homes behind the median.
Mississippi property tax rates by county
The 81 counties with published survey figures, out of 82 in Mississippi (the survey has too few owner-occupied homes to publish a median for the other one), sorted from the highest effective rate to the lowest. The rate is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, from the ACS 5-year 2020-2024 survey (figures to December 31, 2024). Of these, 20 carry a flag: where the survey's margin of error is wide or home values hit the survey's top code, the calculator uses the Mississippi median instead of that county's figure.
| County | Effective rate | Median home value | Median tax a year | Survey | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coahoma County | 1.1207% | $90,300 | $1,012 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Quitman County | 1.0632% | $69,600 | $740 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Grenada County | 1.025% | $132,200 | $1,355 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Leflore County | 1.0208% | $101,200 | $1,033 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Montgomery County | 1.0008% | $126,800 | $1,269 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wilkinson County | 0.9944% | $90,000 | $895 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Humphreys County | 0.9806% | $87,800 | $861 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Noxubee County | 0.9559% | $90,800 | $868 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Sunflower County | 0.9272% | $100,300 | $930 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lauderdale County | 0.9212% | $133,300 | $1,228 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Adams County | 0.896% | $108,700 | $974 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Neshoba County | 0.893% | $100,000 | $893 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jefferson Davis County | 0.8879% | $90,100 | $800 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Pike County | 0.88% | $110,800 | $975 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Sharkey County | 0.8786% | $98,000 | $861 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Hinds County | 0.8774% | $159,900 | $1,403 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jefferson County | 0.8585% | $81,300 | $698 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Holmes County | 0.8582% | $80,400 | $690 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Washington County | 0.8567% | $104,000 | $891 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Greene County | 0.8533% | $92,700 | $791 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Forrest County | 0.8101% | $168,000 | $1,361 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Warren County | 0.7954% | $156,400 | $1,244 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Yazoo County | 0.7783% | $153,800 | $1,197 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Tippah County | 0.7703% | $124,100 | $956 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Marion County | 0.7508% | $122,800 | $922 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jones County | 0.7358% | $143,100 | $1,053 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Newton County | 0.7319% | $106,300 | $778 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Bolivar County | 0.7308% | $130,000 | $950 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Prentiss County | 0.7298% | $122,500 | $894 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Chickasaw County | 0.7286% | $109,800 | $800 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Franklin County | 0.7252% | $101,900 | $739 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Marshall County | 0.7225% | $167,900 | $1,213 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Walthall County | 0.7212% | $126,600 | $913 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Copiah County | 0.7187% | $114,100 | $820 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Oktibbeha County | 0.7114% | $237,700 | $1,691 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jackson County | 0.7074% | $193,100 | $1,366 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Hancock County | 0.7061% | $224,200 | $1,583 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Stone County | 0.7039% | $161,100 | $1,134 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lincoln County | 0.699% | $155,800 | $1,089 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Monroe County | 0.6978% | $120,800 | $843 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lee County | 0.6937% | $199,500 | $1,384 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Jasper County | 0.6881% | $107,100 | $737 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Benton County | 0.6851% | $105,100 | $720 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Webster County | 0.6836% | $120,100 | $821 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Madison County | 0.6776% | $311,100 | $2,108 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Attala County | 0.6759% | $104,600 | $707 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lawrence County | 0.674% | $100,000 | $674 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Leake County | 0.6661% | $116,800 | $778 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Scott County | 0.6654% | $106,700 | $710 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Calhoun County | 0.6645% | $90,300 | $600 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Yalobusha County | 0.6615% | $122,300 | $809 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Lamar County | 0.6582% | $224,700 | $1,479 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pearl River County | 0.6522% | $182,300 | $1,189 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Tate County | 0.6478% | $209,000 | $1,354 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Winston County | 0.6469% | $124,600 | $806 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Panola County | 0.6463% | $127,800 | $826 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Harrison County | 0.6456% | $212,200 | $1,370 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Wayne County | 0.6345% | $91,100 | $578 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Clay County | 0.6274% | $129,100 | $810 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| George County | 0.6255% | $166,900 | $1,044 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Perry County | 0.6153% | $124,000 | $763 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Simpson County | 0.6146% | $122,200 | $751 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Tallahatchie County | 0.6112% | $82,300 | $503 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lowndes County | 0.6045% | $164,100 | $992 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Rankin County | 0.6015% | $237,400 | $1,428 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| DeSoto County | 0.5983% | $269,600 | $1,613 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Covington County | 0.589% | $105,100 | $619 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Itawamba County | 0.5864% | $142,400 | $835 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Alcorn County | 0.5848% | $142,100 | $831 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Pontotoc County | 0.5799% | $157,100 | $911 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Kemper County | 0.5653% | $99,600 | $563 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Clarke County | 0.5639% | $118,100 | $666 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Union County | 0.5618% | $163,400 | $918 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Lafayette County | 0.545% | $315,400 | $1,719 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Tunica County | 0.5344% | $175,900 | $940 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Carroll County | 0.5265% | $109,600 | $577 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Claiborne County | 0.4873% | $82,700 | $403 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Tishomingo County | 0.4859% | $145,100 | $705 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Choctaw County | 0.4804% | $117,200 | $563 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | None |
| Smith County | 0.4165% | $112,600 | $469 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
| Amite County | 0.3829% | $100,800 | $386 | ACS 5-year 2020-2024 | Wide margin of error |
Worked example: the median Mississippi home
The median owner-occupied home in Mississippi is valued at $169,800 (ACS 5-year 2020-2024). Put $33,960 down, enough to keep the loan at 80% of the price so no PMI is charged, and borrow the rest over 30 years at 7.4%, the Freddie Mac average for the week of October 15, 2026. Insurance is the calculator's default of $1,500 a year, the same figure on every state page and 10.7% of this payment; real premiums vary widely from state to state and with a home's exposure to wind, flood and wildfire, so replace it with a premium for the Mississippi home you are pricing.
| Line | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Principal and interest | $940.53 | $11,286.36 |
| Property tax | $101.24 | $1,214.88 |
| Homeowners insurance | $125.00 | $1,500.00 |
| Private mortgage insurance | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total payment | $1,166.77 | $14,001.24 |
Principal and interest dominate the bill; tax and insurance, usually collected through escrow, add $226.24 a month, 19.4% of the total. Over the full term the $135,840 loan costs $202,749 in interest.
With $16,980 down instead, the loan grows to $152,820 and PMI of $63.68 a month is added, for a first payment of $1,348.01. On the regular schedule the PMI stops after 10 years, with the payment in October 2036. A 15-year loan at the 6.71% average, with the larger down payment, raises the monthly figure to $1,425.29 but cuts the interest to $79,989.
What the median Mississippi wage can buy
The median annual wage in Mississippi is $40,120 (BLS wage survey, May 2025). Paid every two weeks as a single filer, that leaves about $2,775 a month after federal and Mississippi paycheck deductions. With $60,000 saved for a down payment and $400 a month of other debts, the home affordability calculator's default 28/36 rule gives this range at 7.4% and the Mississippi property tax rate:
| Level | Home price | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative | $77,678 | $294 |
| Target | $145,482 | $804 |
| Stretch | $176,602 | $1,038 |
Here the limit is total debt: the housing payment plus the other $400 a month reaches 36% of gross pay first. The target falls $24,318 short of the $169,800 median home value: the median home costs 4.2 times the median wage, so a typical Mississippi purchase usually needs a second income, a larger down payment or a cheaper area.
Everyday costs help: Mississippi's prices for goods and rent run 13% below the national average, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price parities for 2024 (figures to December 31, 2024). That stretches the median wage to about $46,140 in national dollars.
Mississippi mortgage questions
What is the mortgage payment on the median home in Mississippi?
The median Mississippi home is valued at $169,800 in the Census Bureau's ACS 5-year 2020-2024 figures. With $33,960 down and a 30-year loan at the 7.4% weekly average, the payment is $1,166.77 a month: $940.53 of principal and interest, $101.24 of property tax and $125.00 of insurance.
What is the property tax rate in Mississippi?
Homeowners in Mississippi pay a median of $1,215 a year on a median home value of $169,800, an effective rate of 0.7155%. That is the 19th lowest of the 50 states and DC. It is a measure of what owners actually pay, not a rate set in law, and a new purchase can be taxed differently.
Which Mississippi county has the highest property tax rate?
Among counties with reliable survey figures, Coahoma County has the highest effective rate at 1.1207% and Choctaw County the lowest at 0.4804%. On the $169,800 median home, that gap is about $1,087 a year.
How much house can I afford on the median Mississippi wage?
On the median wage of $40,120, take-home pay is about $2,775 a month. With $60,000 down and $400 a month of other debts, the 28/36 rule points to a home of about $145,482, against a median home value of $169,800.
Does a smaller down payment change the Mississippi payment much?
With $16,980 down on the same home the loan is larger and private mortgage insurance is added, so the payment starts at $1,348.01 a month, $63.68 of it PMI. The PMI stops once the scheduled balance reaches 78% of the original value.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS 5-year 2020-2024), tables B25103 and B25077
- Freddie Mac, 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States [MORTGAGE30US], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, removing PMI
Mortgage rates: Freddie Mac weekly averages as of . Property tax rates: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2020-2024 as of . Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 as of . How we calculate.