Mathiston: Economy & Jobs
Mathiston's typical household earns $59,236 (about the same as Webster County median $58,789; about the same as Mississippi median $56,447), with homes at a median value of $155,000. The surrounding county supports 2,250 jobs (avg $53,153).
- $49,693 avg taxable income per return — lower than the median household income (vs Mississippi $63,218).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $59,236 — above the Mississippi median ($49,919). Poverty rate 17.2% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 39% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.6× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 16.4% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 39.0% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 17.2% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.7% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $3,340 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $165,975 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $49,693 (vs Mississippi $63,218) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $67,817 |
| Median Household Income | $59,236 (vs Mississippi $49,919) |
| Poverty Rate | 17.2% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $59,236 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 1.5% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 10% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 30.60 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 9.9% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | moderate commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 2,250 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $119,607,633 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $53,153 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,149,950 |
| Unemployment Rate | 1.5% (vs Mississippi 3.4%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 192 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 40,712 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 212.00 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Crop Totals, Vegetable Totals, Poultry Totals, Cattle |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 129 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 1,503 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 85,779 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 4 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Dental Offices | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Child Day Care | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Full Service Restaurants | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Fast Food | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 3 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (1)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (4)
| Nearest Snap · Name | DOLLAR GENERAL 8992 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 4 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | OKOLONA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $52,163,315 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,325.89 (vs Mississippi $7,847) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 8,246 people (vs Mississippi 18,646) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 83.1% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 9.9% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 40.0 years (vs Mississippi 36.6y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 49.6% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12