HomeMississippiLamar County
Lamar County, Mississippi: commercial real estate data.
Lamar County, Mississippi had an estimated 66,734 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 64,219, across 497 square miles. County output reached $2.78 bn in 2024, 1,505 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 39 7(a) approvals worth $18.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lamar County
How many people live in Lamar County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202465,713
- Households25,381
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$70,909
- Median age37.7
- Median gross rent$1,126 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$224,700
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher34.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over44,293
- Population under 1815,975
- Share under 1824.3 percent
- Population 65 and over10,062
- Share 65 and over15.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6439,676
- Civilian labor force32,847
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.0 percent
- Rank by population among Mississippi counties11th of 82
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included835th of 3,222
Lamar County is the 11th largest of 82 Mississippi counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.3 percent against 15.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lamar County
Is Lamar County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202466,734
- Census 2020 base population64,219
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.92 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024527
- Births, 2024734
- Deaths, 2024585
- Natural change, 2024149
- Net domestic migration, 2024307
- Net international migration, 202470
- Total net migration, 2024377
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,460
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents702nd of 3,144
The county has grown 3.92 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lamar County
Where are people moving to Lamar County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,277
- People arriving, from those returns4,283
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,329
- Net household movement-52
- Adjusted gross income arriving$125.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-4.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$54,886
- Average income of a leaving household$55,752
- Largest single originForrest County (736 households)
- Largest single destinationForrest County (734 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest County | 736 | 1,338 | $33.8 m |
| Jones County | 91 | 177 | $4.2 m |
| Marion County | 84 | 160 | $3.4 m |
| Harrison County | 57 | 110 | $2.0 m |
| Pearl River County | 53 | 103 | $2.3 m |
| Covington County | 48 | 97 | $2.7 m |
| Rankin County | 39 | 60 | $2.5 m |
| Hinds County | 36 | 60 | $1.2 m |
Households arriving report $866 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Forrest 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.
Lamar County
What is the Lamar County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.78 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.65 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.7 percent
- GDP change over five years49.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Mississippi areas BEA publishes14th of 82
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1031st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$42,258
Output grew 4.7 percent in the latest year and 49.2 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.
Lamar County
Employment by industry in Lamar County
- Covered employment, annual average20,129
- Establishments reporting1,576
- Average annual pay$44,276
- Average weekly wage$851
- Retail trade, employment4,728
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,876
- Accommodation and food services, employment3,212
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,140
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,047
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$35,337
- Construction, employment897
- Construction, average annual pay$58,684
- Finance and insurance, employment738
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment666
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 4,728 | 308 | $32,876 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,212 | 150 | $21,140 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,047 | 86 | $35,337 |
| Construction | 897 | 154 | $58,684 |
| Finance and insurance | 738 | 122 | $84,273 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 666 | 135 | $60,893 |
| Manufacturing | 461 | 35 | $73,969 |
| Other services, except public administration | 452 | 102 | $42,578 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 4,728 jobs, 23.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lamar County
How many businesses are in Lamar County?
- Establishments, all industries1,505
- Employment at those establishments19,611
- Annual payroll$852.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.9
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.
Lamar County
Building permits in Lamar County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202445
- Declared construction value permitted$7.1 m
- Single family units authorized45
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$156,681
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.8
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.
Lamar County
SBA loans in Lamar County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded39
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$18.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$470,169
- Median 7(a) approval$113,800
- 10th percentile approval$15,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,202,000
- Largest single approval$3,934,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)344
- Jobs per approval8.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active16
- Distinct industries receiving approvals30
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter30
- Franchise loans6
- Franchise share of approvals15.4 percent
- Most active lenderPeoples Bank (8)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$2.4 m
- Average 504 approval$1,218,000
- Median 504 approval$1,218,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval15.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.3
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$20.8 m
The average approval of $470,169 sits well above the median of $113,800, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 10.3 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.
Lamar County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lamar County
Do SBA loans in Lamar County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded12
- Paid in full10
- Charged off2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure23
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Paid in full10
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 12 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.
Lamar County
SBA lending by place in Lamar County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Hattiesburg, approvals20
- Sumrall, approvals8
- Purvis, approvals6
- Lumberton, approvals3
- Seminary, approvals1
- Prentiss, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg | 20 | $11,302,700 |
| Sumrall | 8 | $913,100 |
| Purvis | 6 | $1,939,500 |
| Lumberton | 3 | $147,300 |
| Seminary | 1 | $3,934,000 |
| Prentiss | 1 | $100,000 |
Hattiesburg accounts for 20 approvals against 8 in Sumrall. 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.
Lamar County
How large is Lamar County?
- Land area497 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Mississippi counties50th of 82
- Width, east to west18.1 mi
- Height, north to south31.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land132
- Establishments per square mile3.03
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.
Lamar County
Flood risk in Lamar County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lamar County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 280304
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 9
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- 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 class2
- Radon levels in Lamar 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 Lamar County (community 280304), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 9, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Lamar 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 Lamar 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 Lamar County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202465,713
- Households25,381
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$70,909
- Median age37.7
Common questions
Lamar County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lamar County, Mississippi?
The Census Bureau estimates 66,734 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 65,713, in 25,381 households, ranking 11th of 82 Mississippi counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lamar County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.92 percent since the 2020 census base of 64,219, to 66,734 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 734 births against 585 deaths, with net migration of 377. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lamar County?
$70,909. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $224,700, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $1,126 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lamar County?
1,505 establishments, employing 19,611 people with an annual payroll of $852.0 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Lamar County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 4,728 jobs, 23.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 20,129 jobs at an average annual pay of $44,276, or $851 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lamar County?
39 7(a) approvals totaling $18.3 m since FY2020, across 16 lenders, with a median approval of $113,800, plus 2 504 approvals worth $2.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Lamar County?
45 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $7.1 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lamar 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 Lamar County come from?
The largest single origin is Forrest County, with 736 households. Arriving households report an average income of $54,886 against $55,752 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lamar 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 Lamar 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.
Lamar County
Cities and places in Lamar.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lamar County. All 8 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 | 20 | 12.5 percent here, 87.5 percent Forrest County |
| West Hattiesburg | CDP | 6,715 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Oak Grove | CDP | 2,098 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Purvis | city | 1,914 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Arnold Line | CDP | 1,859 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sumrall | town | 1,674 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Lumberton | city | 1,320 | 3 | 97.1 percent here, 2.9 percent Pearl River County |
| Baxterville | CDP | 423 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 39 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Lamar County, the largest being Seminary (1), Prentiss (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.