County profile · Mississippi
Forrest County, MS market data
How Forrest County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 79,034
- +1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 30,127
- Median household income
- $53,640
- +34.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $168,000
- Jobs located here
- 39,538
- Highest market score
- 69
- Pet grooming and boarding, #246 of 1,461 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Forrest County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Forrest County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Forrest County has an estimated 79,034 people and 30,127 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Forrest County grew 1.1%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Forrest County is $53,640, 34% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 34.6%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Forrest County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 121, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (57).
Of the business types scored in Forrest County, pet grooming and boarding businesses (69), chiropractors (66) and landscaping and lawn care companies (64) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet grooming and boarding businesses, that ranks #246 of 1,461 scored counties.
Forrest County is part of the Hattiesburg metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for primary care and pediatric clinics (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (37% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Forrest County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Forrest County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet grooming and boarding | 69 | #246 of 1,461 | 5 | 1.7 | $4.5M | 179 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 66 | #296 of 1,490 | 7 | 2.3 | $4.2M | 175 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 64 | #373 of 1,493 | 14 | 4.6 | $2.8M | 95 | 10 |
| Pet businesses | 64 | #501 of 2,200 | 24 | 8.0 | $947K | 108 | 11 |
| Roofing and gutters | 59 | #382 of 1,177 | 7 | 2.3 | $10.7M | 127 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 56 | #520 of 1,327 | 8 | 2.7 | $3.2M | 103 | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 52 | #396 of 887 | 8 | 2.7 | Index only | 130 | 3 |
| Veterinarians | 48 | #790 of 1,485 | 11 | 3.7 | $2.1M | 76 | 7 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 48 | #1,168 of 2,176 | 58 | 19.3 | Index only | 129 | 14 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 47 | #975 of 1,771 | 29 | 9.6 | $1.3M | 80 | 33 |
| Home repair trades | 46 | #1,235 of 2,057 | 36 | 11.9 | $2.1M | 86 | 37 |
| Electricians | 44 | #738 of 1,160 | 10 | 3.3 | $7.5M | 63 | 8 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 41 | #1,166 of 1,707 | 19 | 6.3 | $4M | 83 | 25 |
| Pizza | 40 | #1,427 of 2,090 | 17 | 5.6 | $5.7M | 112 | 82 |
| House cleaning | 39 | #620 of 847 | 8 | 2.7 | $4.9M | 76 | 15 |
| Insurance agencies | 39 | #1,501 of 2,272 | 56 | 18.6 | $1.3M | 101 | 39 |
| Real estate | 39 | #1,673 of 2,229 | 78 | 25.9 | Index only | 120 | 37 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 38 | #939 of 1,302 | 10 | 3.3 | $2.9M | 94 | 6 |
| Hair salons | 38 | #1,755 of 2,339 | 87 | 28.9 | $267K | 62 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 37 | #1,887 of 2,385 | 155 | 51.4 | $150K | 70 | 10 |
| Physical therapy | 33 | #1,156 of 1,422 | 20 | 6.6 | $1.5M | 61 | 8 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 33 | #1,711 of 2,088 | 37 | 12.3 | $458K | 69 | 10 |
| Auto repair shops | 33 | #1,925 of 2,378 | 83 | 27.6 | $305K | 69 | 26 |
| Auto repair and car care | 33 | #1,940 of 2,401 | 149 | 49.5 | $170K | 63 | 34 |
| Gyms | 31 | #1,467 of 1,792 | 18 | 6.0 | $941K | 72 | 10 |
| Grocery stores | 30 | #1,651 of 2,070 | 33 | 11.0 | $5M | 54 | 13 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 29 | #1,744 of 2,087 | 48 | 15.9 | $1M | 81 | 26 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 28 | #711 of 777 | 6 | 2.0 | $2.8M | 69 | 10 |
| Property management | 28 | #808 of 910 | 11 | 3.7 | Index only | 67 | 15 |
| Car washes and detailing | 27 | #1,264 of 1,451 | 14 | 4.6 | $1.8M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 26 | #1,411 of 1,611 | 22 | 7.3 | $486K | 49 | 20 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 26 | #1,706 of 1,889 | 27 | 9.0 | $3.6M | 86 | 26 |
| Gas stations | 26 | #2,083 of 2,358 | 62 | 20.6 | $1.3M | 56 | 55 |
| Laundromats | 25 | #668 of 785 | 6 | 2.0 | $8.3M | 66 | 3 |
| Tire shops | 25 | #1,332 of 1,530 | 25 | 8.3 | $1M | 41 | 6 |
| Spas and skin care | 25 | #1,636 of 1,769 | 29 | 9.6 | $801K | 91 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 25 | #1,968 of 2,210 | 68 | 22.6 | $730K | 83 | 35 |
| Barbershops | 23 | #1,190 of 1,356 | 18 | 6.0 | $1.3M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 22 | #1,364 of 1,472 | 13 | 4.3 | $264K | 39 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 22 | #1,992 of 2,261 | 49 | 16.3 | $3.4M | 43 | 17 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 22 | #2,175 of 2,402 | 97 | 32.2 | $1.7M | 50 | 30 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 22 | #2,281 of 2,405 | 223 | 74.0 | $432K | 65 | 59 |
| Pest control | 21 | #660 of 699 | 7 | 2.3 | $5.6M | 54 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 21 | #1,960 of 2,063 | 37 | 12.3 | $2.6M | 70 | 26 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 20 | #1,252 of 1,334 | 13 | 4.3 | $1.3M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 19 | #1,244 of 1,328 | 21 | 7.0 | $1.1M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 18 | #1,578 of 1,656 | 52 | 17.3 | $565K | 32 | 53 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 18 | #2,324 of 2,394 | 414 | 137.4 | $71K | 47 | 109 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 16 | #2,361 of 2,405 | 415 | 137.8 | $232K | 63 | 169 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 15 | #1,858 of 1,886 | 50 | 16.6 | $587K | 60 | 36 |
| Dry cleaners | 14 | #493 of 507 | 5 | 1.7 | $9.9M | 63 | 6 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 14 | #2,157 of 2,222 | 69 | 22.9 | $1.4M | 46 | 82 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.3 | $5.7M | 126 | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.3 | $7.3M | 30 | 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.0 | $8.5M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in Forrest County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $25.4M | $842 | 88 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $83.1M | $2,758 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $96.4M | $3,201 | 79 |
| Groceries | $164.7M | $5,466 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $23.2M | $771 | 77 |
| Child care and other personal services | $10.7M | $355 | 61 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $16.9M | $562 | 57 |
| Medical and dental services | $29.4M | $975 | 76 |
| Pets | $22.7M | $755 | 83 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $49.6M | $1,647 | 80 |
| Vehicle insurance | $71.1M | $2,361 | 121 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $75.2M | $2,497 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $39M | $1,294 | 91 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $406.6M | $13,496 | 81 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Forrest County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 79,034+1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 30,127
- Median age
- 35.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 57%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 466 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 168
- Median household income
- $53,640+34.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $78,383
- Median home value
- $168,000
- Jobs located here
- 39,538
- Daytime population
- 89,930Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Forrest County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Forrest County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Mississippi 8
- Lamar County, MS65,713 people
- Perry County, MS11,449 people
- Jones County, MS66,472 people
- Covington County, MS18,148 people
- Marion County, MS24,193 people
- Stone County, MS18,894 people
- Jefferson Davis County, MS11,117 people
- Greene County, MS13,615 people
Questions
How fast is Forrest County, MS growing?
Population estimates put Forrest County at 79,034 people in 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 30,127 households. Median household income rose 34.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Forrest County, MS spend?
Households in Forrest County spend about $406.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $164.7M on groceries and $96.4M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Forrest County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 121, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (57).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Forrest County, MS?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Forrest County are for pet grooming and boarding businesses (69), chiropractors (66) and landscaping and lawn care companies (64). Forrest County ranks #246 of 1,461 scored counties for pet grooming and boarding businesses.
How does Forrest County, MS compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Forrest County is $53,640 a year, 34% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $168,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Forrest County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for primary care and pediatric clinics (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (37% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 52 of the 56 business types have a score in Forrest County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Forrest County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Forrest County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Forrest County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.