District 2
RANK #349 / 996 NAT · #10 / 15 MS · POP 157,185
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
Rankin County, Mississippi, distinguishes itself through the Ross Barnett Reservoir, a 33,000-acre body of water offering extensive outdoor recreation. Located in central Mississippi, directly east of the state capital, Jackson, Rankin County provides a blend of suburban and rural living. Commuting to Jackson is common, with many residents traveling for work. The community feel leans conservative, with a high rate of homeownership. Beyond the reservoir, the county features the Pearl River, national forests, and parks like Roosevelt State Park, providing opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and hiking.
Life in Rankin County often appeals to families and young professionals, many of whom commute to nearby Jackson. The county is served by two public school districts, Rankin County School District and Pearl Public School District, along with several private schools and Hinds Community College. The local economy is experiencing growth, with recent investments in sectors such as manufacturing and packaging. These developments contribute to a landscape of expanding employment opportunities within the county.
Below national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 4.1x 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
AVAIO Digital Taurus Data Center Campus
AVAIO Digital
|
$6,000M | Under Construction |
|
New Manufacturing Facility (West Rankin Industrial Park)
Siemens Energy
|
$300M | Under Construction |
|
Pearl River Solar Park
EDP Renewables North America
|
$235M | Operating |
|
New Sustainable Packaging Facility
International Paper
|
$225M | Planned |
|
Solar + Storage Project
Origis Energy
|
$100M | In Development |
|
West Rankin Parkway
Rankin County/Rankin First Economic Development Authority
|
$50M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 65/100, Rankin County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +0.8%, and median household income stands at $76,460 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in MS.
By national standards, Rankin County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $203,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.38 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,177/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Rankin County's population is growing — up +0.7% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.8%). Home values shifted +2.1% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 5.43% of Rankin County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.