District 2
RANK #15 / 996 NAT · #2 / 15 MS · POP 83,343
1YR FORECAST: +4.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +44%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 ranks #15 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 99/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 0.7% year-over-year). Median household income here is $64,479.
By national standards, Lee County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $172,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $898/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Lee County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs -0.7%. Home values shifted +5.7% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.58% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lee County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.7% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Lee County is now valued at $172,900. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.