Foreclosures in Mississippi increased in 2009 over the prior year. There was a total of 5,402 properties with foreclosure filings. That works out to a rate of one filing for every 232 households, which compares to the United States average of 45, and is a little less than one half of one percent of the state's housing units.
Mississippi is the 31st largest U.S. state by population, with 2,938,618 people (in 2008). Its 48,430 square miles make it the 32nd largest state by area. Median household income in 2008 was $37,790.
Mississippi can be considered the country's poorest state—it median household income and per capita income are the lowest in the nation. Mississippians receive approximately $2 for every dollar they send to Washington D.C. in taxes, the second highest ratio in the country. Education, health and social services are the biggest employment sectors in the state, trailed by manufacturing and retail industries. Agriculture is a significant economic contributor as well, particularly soybeans and cotton.