Checked
Forrest County, MS
4 cities and towns and 3 ZIP codes in Forrest County, Mississippi.
Population
78,272
Land area
466sq mi
People per sq mi
168
ZIP codes
3
Cities and towns in Forrest County
Forrest County at a glance
- Forrest County is about 2.7 times as dense as Mississippi as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 8th among 82 counties in Mississippi.
- The median household income is $53,640, 5% below the Mississippi median of $56,447.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $168,000 and median rent is $972 a month.
- Its largest cities are Hattiesburg (48,619), Petal (11,294) and Rawls Springs (1,499).
Local data for Forrest County, MS
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes6
- Schools24
- Colleges5
- Libraries2
- Banks29
- Post Offices5
- Parks38
- Grocery Stores39
- Restaurants282
- Affordable Housing12
- Hospice Care5
- Community Health Centers18
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools3
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools3
- Superfund Sites1
- Toxic Release Facilities12
- Historic Places14
Housing and community stats
Forrest County, MS, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$53,640
Poverty rate
21.0%
Median home value
$168,000
Prices +4.1% in a year
Median rent
$972/mo
Homeownership
57.2%
Bachelor's or higher
30.6%
Median age
32.0
Average commute
21.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (6,614), German Americans (5,680), French Americans (2,129).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.0%
Sep 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$54,252
38,996 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$47,943
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$571M
FY 2026, $7,303 per person
PPP loans
$107M
2,564 loans, 14,762 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$176K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Forrest County, MS, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.6%
- Carpooled8.1%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked2.2%
- Bicycle0.6%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other4.2%
- Worked from home4.0%
Average one-way commute: 21.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Forrest County, MS, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: tornado
Storm events since 1996
725
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
469
1.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
92° / 38°F
58.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone14 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Forrest County, MS, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.8%
U.S. 33.3% +2.5 pts
Diabetes
13.1%
U.S. 12.1% +1.0 pts
Smoking
15.2%
U.S. 12.8% +2.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.8%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Forrest County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Forrest County, MS?
- Hattiesburg is the largest city or town in Forrest County, with about 48,619 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Forrest County?
- Forrest County includes 3 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 39401, 39406, 39465.
- What is the population of Forrest County, MS?
- About 78,272 people live in Forrest County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Forrest County?
- Forrest County borders Jones County, Lamar County, Pearl River County, Stone County, Covington County, Perry County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023