RANK #59 / 996 · POP 83,343 · MS
PROJECTED GROWTH: +3.3%
Lee County, Mississippi, is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, located in Tupelo, the county seat. This northeastern Mississippi county sits roughly halfway between Birmingham, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee, with Tupelo serving as a commercial and cultural hub. The community offers a blend of small-town living with access to urban amenities. Outdoor recreation is available at places like the Natchez Trace Parkway, which has hiking trails and scenic views, and Tombigbee Lake State Park, offering fishing and boating on Lake Lee.
Life in Lee County provides a suburban feel, with many residents owning their homes. The public schools in the county are highly rated, a factor that appeals to families. The economy, once heavily reliant on furniture manufacturing, has diversified to include advanced manufacturing, information technology, and financial services. This economic evolution, coupled with a lower cost of living, attracts a mix of families and young professionals. The average commute time for residents is around 20.8 minutes.
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.9x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
CPV Jugfork Solar Project
Competitive Power Ventures (CPV)
|
$320M | Planned |
|
Liebherr Distribution and Manufacturing Operations
Liebherr
|
$176M | Planned |
|
Ashley Furniture Expansion (Verona and Saltillo)
Ashley Furniture
|
$102M | Completed |
|
Amazon Last-Mile Facility (Saltillo)
Amazon
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Lee County has a Boom Town Index score of 94/100, ranking #59 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.7% and a median household income of $64,479, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Lee County is $172,900 with median rent at $898/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3729, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.1% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.7%. Home values changed +5.7% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.58% of Lee County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.