Population
17,473
2025
−1.2% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Winston County, MS: population growth, jobs and income
Winston County gained 15 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.1%).
Winston County had an estimated 17,473 residents in 2025, down 1.2% (216 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Mississippi as a whole (−0.1%), and the 35th fastest growth of 82 counties in Mississippi.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Winston County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Winston County, ranked against Mississippi and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$721/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes13.2%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months02025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+52
2025
3.0 per 1,000 residents
+58 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.0%
2025
−2.1 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
1
2025
0.1 per 1,000 residents
Small base: the change swings on a few homes or people, so we don't show it.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$53,031
2020–24
+36.0% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
5,518
2023
+3.4% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 52 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 5,518 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +3.4% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.0% in 2025, 2.1 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 1 new homes in 2025, or 0.1 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $53,031 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +36.0% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,250th.
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Email me when Winston County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Winston County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17,473 | +15 |
| 2024 | 17,458 | −28 |
| 2023 | 17,486 | −42 |
| 2022 | 17,528 | −50 |
| 2021 | 17,578 | −111 |
| 2020 | 17,689 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Winston County
Winston County lost 216 people since 2020 even though 58 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 278, and net international migration added 8.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −32 | −278 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | −5 | +8 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +52 | +58 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +0 | −4 | |
| Total change | +15 | −216 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Mississippi | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 35th of 82 | 2,250th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 20th of 82 | 1,398th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 32nd of 81 | 1,410th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 27th of 82 | 2,569th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 43rd of 82 | 1,556th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 61st of 78 | 2,747th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Winston County, MS as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Oktibbeha County and Neshoba County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Winston County's population change (−1.2%) was ahead of 4 of its 7 neighbouring counties and behind 3.
Only Neshoba County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 7 neighbouring counties; Winston County's was $53,031.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston County, MS This county | 17,473 | −1.2% | 3.0 | 0.1 | $53,031 |
| Choctaw County, MS | 8,048 | −1.9% | −1.7 | 0.9 | $50,919 |
| Neshoba County, MS | 28,732 | −0.9% | −3.3 | 0.1 | $57,013 |
| Oktibbeha County, MS | 51,896 | +0.4% | −10.0 | 1.2 | $46,695 |
| Noxubee County, MS | 9,798 | −4.2% | −8.7 | 0.0 | $33,833 |
| Attala County, MS | 17,100 | −4.1% | −3.5 | 0.2 | $51,639 |
| Kemper County, MS | 8,600 | −4.1% | 7.7 | – | $46,431 |
| Leake County, MS | 21,662 | +1.9% | −7.4 | 0.0 | $50,728 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Winston County growing?
No. Its population fell 1.2% between 2020 and 2025, about 216 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Mississippi as a whole changed −0.1% over the same years. That ranks 35th of 82 counties in Mississippi for population growth.
How many people moved to Winston County?
On net, about 52 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Winston County?
It averaged 4.0% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Winston County?
About 17,473 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Winston County?
Private employers there had 5,518 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +3.4% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Mississippi
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Mississippi county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Winston County data alerts
Email me when Winston County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.