RANK #421 / 1001 NAT · #12 / 15 MS · POP 158,854
1YR FORECAST: +0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
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.
Rankin County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.4% YoY, population +0.4%, wages +4.3%). 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 10.3x — 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: 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 1001 counties.
Rankin County scores 58/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#421). Median household income is $79,357 and job growth is running at +0.5%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Rankin County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $237,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $1,270/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Rankin County are both close to flat — population +0.4% YoY and jobs +0.5%. Home values shifted +2.4% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.92% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Rankin County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.