HomeMississippiForrest County
Forrest County, Mississippi: commercial real estate data.
Forrest County, Mississippi had an estimated 78,435 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 78,177, across 466 square miles. County output reached $4.84 bn in 2024, 1,741 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 70 7(a) approvals worth $22.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Forrest County
How many people live in Forrest County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202478,272
- Households30,127
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$53,640
- Median age32.0
- Median gross rent$972 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$168,000
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher30.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over47,489
- Population under 1817,773
- Share under 1822.7 percent
- Population 65 and over10,751
- Share 65 and over13.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6449,748
- Civilian labor force38,911
- Unemployment rate6.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.3 percent
- Rank by population among Mississippi counties8th of 82
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included739th of 3,222
Forrest County is the 8th largest of 82 Mississippi counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.7 percent against 13.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Forrest County
Is Forrest County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202478,435
- Census 2020 base population78,177
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.33 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20243
- Births, 2024991
- Deaths, 2024881
- Natural change, 2024110
- Net domestic migration, 2024-306
- Net international migration, 2024200
- Total net migration, 2024-106
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-638
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1709th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.33 percent since the 2020 census base. Births exceeded deaths in 2024 by more than net migration took away, so the population grew even though more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Forrest County
Where are people moving to Forrest County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,564
- People arriving, from those returns4,727
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,634
- Net household movement-70
- Adjusted gross income arriving$134.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$12.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$52,462
- Average income of a leaving household$46,174
- Largest single originLamar County (734 households)
- Largest single destinationLamar County (736 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar County | 734 | 1,397 | $33.2 m |
| Jones County | 167 | 307 | $6.2 m |
| Harrison County | 95 | 161 | $3.0 m |
| Perry County | 95 | 194 | $3.6 m |
| Covington County | 59 | 124 | $3.2 m |
| Hinds County | 50 | 92 | $1.9 m |
| Marion County | 41 | 82 | $1.0 m |
| Jackson County | 40 | 76 | $1.7 m |
Households arriving report $6,288 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Lamar County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Forrest County
What is the Forrest County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$4.84 bn
- County GDP, 2023$4.68 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.6 percent
- GDP change over five years29.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Mississippi areas BEA publishes8th of 82
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes728th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$61,855
Output grew 3.6 percent in the latest year and 29.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Forrest County
Employment by industry in Forrest County
- Covered employment, annual average39,390
- Establishments reporting1,988
- Average annual pay$51,547
- Average weekly wage$991
- Health care and social assistance, employment5,444
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$71,880
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,319
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,085
- Retail trade, employment4,020
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,612
- Manufacturing, employment3,610
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$57,688
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment2,005
- Construction, employment1,324
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 5,444 | 246 | $71,880 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,319 | 227 | $20,085 |
| Retail trade | 4,020 | 333 | $37,612 |
| Manufacturing | 3,610 | 60 | $57,688 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,005 | 94 | $31,870 |
| Construction | 1,324 | 126 | $63,831 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,284 | 91 | $60,706 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,147 | 72 | $50,722 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 5,444 jobs, 13.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Forrest County
How many businesses are in Forrest County?
- Establishments, all industries1,741
- Employment at those establishments32,739
- Annual payroll$1.70 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Forrest County
Building permits in Forrest County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202485
- Declared construction value permitted$18.0 m
- Single family units authorized85
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$212,107
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.8
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Forrest County
SBA loans in Forrest County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded70
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$22.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$326,259
- Median 7(a) approval$168,550
- 10th percentile approval$16,850
- 90th percentile approval$1,003,500
- Largest single approval$1,892,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)654
- Jobs per approval9.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active23
- Distinct industries receiving approvals47
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms10
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter52
- Franchise loans7
- Franchise share of approvals10.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (7)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$2.8 m
- Average 504 approval$1,406,500
- Median 504 approval$1,406,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval51.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved36.6
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$25.7 m
The average approval of $326,259 sits well above the median of $168,550, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 14.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Forrest County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Forrest County
Do SBA loans in Forrest County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded21
- Paid in full19
- Charged off2
- Status: Paid in full19
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure40
- Status: Cancelled9
Only 21 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Forrest County
SBA lending by place in Forrest County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Hattiesburg, approvals45
- Petal, approvals22
- Brooklyn, approvals2
- Brandon, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg | 45 | $14,601,900 |
| Petal | 22 | $6,438,200 |
| Brooklyn | 2 | $1,783,000 |
| Brandon | 1 | $15,000 |
Hattiesburg accounts for 45 approvals against 22 in Petal. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Forrest County
How large is Forrest County?
- Land area466 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Mississippi counties56th of 82
- Width, east to west18.6 mi
- Height, north to south36.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land168
- Establishments per square mile3.74
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Forrest County
Flood risk in Forrest County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Forrest County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 280052
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Forrest County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Forrest County (community 280052), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Forrest County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Forrest County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Forrest County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202478,272
- Households30,127
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$53,640
- Median age32.0
Common questions
Forrest County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Forrest County, Mississippi?
The Census Bureau estimates 78,435 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 78,272, in 30,127 households, ranking 8th of 82 Mississippi counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Forrest County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.33 percent since the 2020 census base of 78,177, to 78,435 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 991 births against 881 deaths, with net migration of -106. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Forrest County?
$53,640. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,000, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $972 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Forrest County?
1,741 establishments, employing 32,739 people with an annual payroll of $1.70 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Forrest County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 5,444 jobs, 13.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 39,390 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,547, or $991 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Forrest County?
70 7(a) approvals totaling $22.8 m since FY2020, across 23 lenders, with a median approval of $168,550, plus 2 504 approvals worth $2.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Forrest County?
85 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $18.0 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Forrest County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Forrest County come from?
The largest single origin is Lamar County, with 734 households. Arriving households report an average income of $52,462 against $46,174 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Forrest County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Forrest County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Forrest County
Cities and places in Forrest.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in Forrest County. All 5 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg | city | 48,619 | 45 | 87.5 percent here, 12.5 percent Lamar County |
| Petal | city | 11,294 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Rawls Springs | CDP | 1,499 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Glendale | CDP | 1,257 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Eastabuchie | CDP | 82 | None recorded | 54.7 percent here, 45.3 percent Jones County |
A further 3 of the county's 70 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Forrest County, the largest being Brooklyn (2), Brandon (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.