Census ACS 5-Year · 18 metrics compared
Alabama vs Mississippi
Alabama and Mississippi compared across 18 demographic and economic metrics. Alabama leads in 11 of the comparable categories.
11
Alabama wins
2
Mississippi wins
| Metric | Alabama | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,054,253 | 2,951,438 |
| Median Age | 39.3 | 38.4 |
| Median Household Income | $62,027 | $54,915 |
| Per Capita Income | $34,835 | $30,529 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.3% | 14.3% |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Median Home Value | $195,100 | $161,400 |
| Median Rent | $963 | $923 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.9% | 69.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 27.8% | 24.2% |
| High School+ | 88.1% | 86.6% |
| Work From Home | 7.8% | 5.3% |
| Avg Commute (min) | 25.4 | 25.6 |
| White | 65.4% | 56.3% |
| Hispanic | 1.6% | 1.2% |
| Black | 26.1% | 37.0% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Foreign Born | 27.2% | 25.8% |
Related Comparisons
Related Profiles & Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Alabama has a population of 5,054,253 compared to Mississippi's 2,951,438.
Across the metrics compared, Alabama leads in 11 categories while Mississippi leads in 2. However, "better" depends on what matters most to you, income, cost of living, education, climate, and personal preferences all play a role.
All data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates by the US Census Bureau.
Comparison based on American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Green highlighting indicates the "better" value where applicable (higher income is better, lower poverty is better, etc.). Race and ethnicity metrics are not highlighted as there is no "better" value.
The side-by-side above pulls the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data for both Alabama and Mississippi. What follows is the interpretation — which specific axes carry the most weight for Alabama versus Mississippi, and which differences are large enough to influence a real decision.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.