RANK #856 / 1001 NAT · #12 / 15 MS · POP 71,504
1YR FORECAST: -0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +13%
Lauderdale County, Mississippi, is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers, the "Father of Country Music," with a museum in Highland Park dedicated to his life and career. Located in eastern Mississippi on the Alabama border, its county seat, Meridian, is about 90 miles east of Jackson. The community offers a blend of small-town atmosphere and access to outdoor recreation. Residents can explore Bonita Lakes Park, a 3,300-acre space with lakes, woods, and trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Okatibbee Lake, 10 miles northwest of Meridian, provides opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping.
Life in Lauderdale County offers a slower pace, appealing to families and those seeking a less urban environment. The Lauderdale County School District serves several communities, with some schools, like Clarkdale Elementary and High School, receiving high ratings. Commute times are generally manageable, and public transportation options are available, though many residents drive. The local economy is experiencing new investment, particularly in technology sectors like data centers, which are expected to create jobs. Healthcare and educational services also remain significant employers in the area.
Lauderdale County is one of 75 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.3% matches the profile's typical +0.8%.
See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 6.2x 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 Lauderdale 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Compass Datacenters Hyperscale Campus
Compass Datacenters
|
$10,000M | Under Construction |
|
Mississippi Crossing Project (Natural Gas Pipeline & Compressor Station)
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company LLC (Kinder Morgan)
|
$1,400M | Proposed |
|
Meridian III Solar Farm
SR Meridian III, LLC (Silicon Ranch)
|
$100M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Lauderdale County scores just 14/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #856 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -1.0% and median household income of $50,817 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
By national standards, Lauderdale County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $133,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.38 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $953/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Lauderdale County is losing population (-0.7% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (-1.0% employment change). Home values are +1.3% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
Not particularly — 1.9% of Lauderdale County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.