RANK #425 / 1001 NAT · #7 / 15 MS · POP 210,891
1YR FORECAST: +0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Harrison County, Mississippi, on the Gulf Coast, is known for its 26 miles of white sand beaches and coastal communities like Gulfport and Biloxi, which serve as county seats. The county is about an hour and a half drive from New Orleans, Louisiana. The community offers access to outdoor recreation, including water activities and natural preserves. De Soto National Forest also extends into the county, providing opportunities for hiking, fishing, and bird watching. Life in Harrison County attracts families and young professionals, with a majority of residents owning their homes. The Harrison County School District is recognized as a highly-rated public school district. The local economy is driven by tourism, the seafood industry, and military installations like Keesler Air Force Base. Recent economic developments include investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy sectors, contributing to job creation and community growth. The county also benefits from ongoing projects aimed at enhancing coastal infrastructure and tourism assets.
Harrison County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.5% YoY, population +0.7%, wages +5.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.8x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Harrison County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Mississippi State Port at Gulfport Expansion (Initial Plan)
Mississippi State Port Authority
|
$570M | Under Construction |
|
Chemical Manufacturing Plant
PCC GulfChem Corporation
|
$540M | Under Construction |
|
Battery Energy Storage Facility
Peregrine Energy Solutions
|
$400M | Planned |
|
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport Renovations and Runway Extension
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
|
$184M | Completed/Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Harrison County scores 57/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#425). Median household income is $59,479 and job growth is running at +1.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Harrison County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $212,200 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,115/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Harrison County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.7% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.2% clip. Home values shifted +2.5% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.03% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Harrison County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.