Smith County, MS at a glance
Median household income
$60,916$5,076 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Smith County, MS?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Smith County, MS? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Smith County, MS, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $727 | $8,724 | $29,080 | 14.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $768 | $9,216 | $30,720 | 15.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $842 | $10,104 | $33,680 | 16.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,012 | $12,144 | $40,480 | 19.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,118 | $13,416 | $44,720 | 22% |
What a typical income covers in Smith County, MS
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $60,916 a year ($5,076 a month before tax).
What $60,916 leaves after Mississippi taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Mississippi tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Mississippi
Living in Smith County, MS: common questions
What is the median household income in Smith County, MS?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Smith County, MS is $60,916 per year (approximately $5,076 per month).
What is the average rent in Smith County, MS?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $727 for a studio, $768 for one bedroom, $842 for two, $1,012 for three and $1,118 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Smith County, MS expensive to live in?
Prices there run 13% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Mississippi is 87.0, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Smith County, MS?
To keep a $842 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $33,680 a year, or $2,807 a month. That is 55% of what the typical household in Smith County, MS earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Smith County, MS?
On the local median income of $60,916 ($5,076 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,538 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,523 for everything else and $1,015 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $842 takes 33% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Smith County, MS?
Homes in Mississippi paid 14.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $134. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.