Street scene, 1939
Tchula’s story
196 years in pictures
Census counts: 90 in 1880, a peak of 2,332 in 2000, 1,652 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 1939 and 3 maps from 1940 on.
- 1830Tchula is settled
TchulaMS
Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,659
2025 Census estimate · −0.6% since 2020
Typical home
$87K
−11% in a year
Household income
$35K
median
Median age
35.0
years
Jobs based here
88
A commuter town
Is Tchula a good place to live?
The best of Tchula’s subject grades is an A for cost of living; the weakest is a D− for incomes. Tchula’s density of trails is 1.4 miles per square mile, above both Mississippi’s towns (0.2) and U.S. towns (0.4). Tchula's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 94% of U.S. towns. Tchula has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Tchula stand out
Where Tchula beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Typical home value
Tchula$87K
Mississippi$195K
Cost of livingA
1.4 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 90% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
0historic places
History
Settled in 1830
A long history
A history going back 196 years.
31 measures vs. Mississippi
3 better8 too close to call20 worse
| Widest gap | Tchula | MS |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 27.1% | 11.2% |
Worth knowing · HealthD−
Less healthy than 99% of U.S. towns
Trails MS on 20 of 31 CDC measures, beats it on 3
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A shrinking town
Tchula has shrunk 22% since 2010
2,096 counted in 2010 and 1,652 in 2020; an estimated 1,659 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Tchula grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Mississippi), ordered by how far Tchula is from typical.
Jobs & income$35K median household incomeD−Open →HealthNear the bottom of U.S. towns on CDC estimates; Holmes County Hospital and Clinics 12.7 miles awayD−Open →Cost of livingAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.8 of 20; 14.1% of households have no car; 0.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →SchoolsCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 49% of U.S. communities; drought tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 0% conserved landCOpen →History3 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life2.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Tchula: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Tchula, and how to reach them.
PowerEntergy Mississippi13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Tchula water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Tchula’s trash rules yet
Register to voteIn personMississippi has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHolmes County RegistrarHolmes County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2023
ZIP code3916939169 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Tchula.
HealthD−
Tchula stands out in Mississippi and nationally, with more of its adults who have obesity
No town among the 102 in Mississippi we compare has a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Tchula. The share of adults in Tchula who have high blood pressure: 58%. Among 102 Mississippi towns, just 7 have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Tchula. 8.8% of Tchula adults binge drink, where Mississippi’s towns sit at 13% and U.S. towns at 16%.
1%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Tchula | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 27% | 19% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 54% | 42% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 16% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 36% | 25% |
31 measures vs. Mississippi
3 better8 too close to call20 worse
| What stands out | Tchula | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 4.9% | 7.6% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 8.8% | 13.6% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 27.1% | 11.2% |
Holmes County Hospital and Clinics
12.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
33%of MS districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduates Within Reach AcademyLargest public high schoolGrades 5–12 | Grades 5–12 | – | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MS on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade A
Compared with most of Mississippi and the rest of the country, the median rent in Tchula is lower
In the year to September 2026, typical home values slipped 11%. Among households in Tchula, 46% are owner-occupiers.
$87KZillow home value
| Tchula | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 46% | 62% | 73% |
| Median rent | $518 a month | $905 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Tchula$87K
Mississippi$195K
−11%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
Tchula has 0.2 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
In Tchula, 1.4% of working residents work locally. Since 2013, Tchula has lost 44 jobs, to 88 in 2023. The town’s average commute is 40 minutes. Among 100 Mississippi towns, just one has a higher share of residents below the poverty line than Tchula.
1%work in town
| Tchula | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 40 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 45% | 21% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 19% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Tchula1%
Jackson10%
Greenwood9%
Canton4%
Lexington2%
41 mi
median commute distance
88
jobs based in Tchula
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 13% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter37–57°
Spring54–76°
Summer71–91°
Fall54–77°
Nov 21
typical first frost
Mar 3
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Younger than Mississippi overall
For residents in Tchula, the share who are 65 or older is 11%. 22% of adults 25 and older hold at least a bachelor’s degree, against 25% across Mississippi. In Tchula, the median age is 35 years.
35median age · MS 38.6
| Tchula | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 11% | 17% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 27% | 24% | 22% |
| Median age | 35 years | 37 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 22% | 25% | 29% |
TchulaMississippiUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma18%
High school38%
Some college21%
Associate’s2%
Bachelor’s17%
Graduate6%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 46% and 80% women
The Census survey reached too few of Tchula’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±16.9 points. Across Mississippi, 51.5% of residents are women.
| Tchula | MS | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 15.5% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.4% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.5% | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.4% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.3% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.4% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6.3% | 10.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.8% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 17.6% | 12.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 37.6% | 29.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.6% | 21.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 2% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 16.7% | 15.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 5.5% | 9.9% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,700, single groups can be off by several points
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Natural hazards: moderate risk in Tchula, mostly drought
Households in Tchula have drawn federal disaster aid in 7 declared disasters, most recently in 2026. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 26% come from drought and 21% from tornadoes. Paid flood insurance claims in the town since 1980: 20.
49risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtTornadoesInland flooding
20
paid flood claims since 1980
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsC
Conserved land covers 0.1% of Tchula
Among 88 Mississippi towns, just 7 have a lower share of conserved land than Tchula. Walkers can cover 2.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. This Mississippi town has one park or preserve, 9 acres in all.
0.1%conserved
0.1%
conserved · 1 of 924 acres
2.0 mi
of trails · 1.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tchula Park | 0.2 mi | 9 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Tchula
19pages on Tchula
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Tchula; the nearest are
Holmes Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Goodman23.1 mi$3,710 in-state tuitionMississippi Valley State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Itta Bena23.9 mi$7,692 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Tchula residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Mississippi.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Tchula for work
Where Tchula’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
88jobs based in Tchula
1%of working residents work in town
41 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Tchula
3 notable people were born in Tchula.
About Tchula
Town in Mississippi, United States
Tchula is a town in Holmes County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,652 at the 2020 census, down from 2,332 in 2000. A 2015 article in The Guardian described it as the poorest community in the United States.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 112 ft
- ZIP code
- 39169
- Area code
- 662
Questions about Tchula
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Tchula, MS expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
What is Tchula, MS known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Jimmy Dawkins and Little Smokey Smothers.