Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Kentucky instead of Mississippi, you would:
Health
live 1.6 years longer
In Mississippi, the average life expectancy is 72 years (71 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In Kentucky, that number is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020.
be 12.5% less likely to have diabetes
In Mississippi, 13.6% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In Kentucky, that number is 11.9% as of 2022.
Economy
make 20.0% more money
Mississippi has a GDP per capita of $41,778 as of 2024, while in Kentucky, the GDP per capita is $50,135 as of 2024.
be 16.3% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Mississippi, 18.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Kentucky, however, that number is 15.4% as of 2023.
be 12.9% more likely to be unemployed
In Mississippi, 3.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Kentucky, that number is 3.5% as of 2025.
Housing & Income
earn 13.7% more money
The median household income in Mississippi is $54,915 as of 2023, while in Kentucky, it is $62,417 as of 2023.
pay 19.1% more for a home
The median home value in Mississippi is $161,400 as of 2023, compared to $192,300 in Kentucky as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 1.6 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Mississippi takes 25.6 minutes as of 2023. In Kentucky, it takes 24.0 minutes as of 2023.
be 49.6% less likely to be uninsured
In Mississippi, 11.3% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In Kentucky, that number is 5.7% as of 2023.
be 18.6% less likely to be physically inactive
In Mississippi, 31.7% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Kentucky, that number is 25.8% as of 2022.
be 11.8% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Mississippi, 16.1% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Kentucky, that number is 18.0% as of 2023.
be 78.6% more likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Mississippi, 1.4% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In Kentucky, that number is 2.5% as of 2023.
be 22.7% less likely to be food insecure
In Mississippi, 16.3% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Kentucky, that number is 12.6% as of 2021.
live in an area that is 82.6% more densely populated
Mississippi has a population density of 24.2 people per sq km as of 2023. In Kentucky, that number is 44.2 people per sq km as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.
