Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Tunica’s median age is 53.4 years, above both the Mississippi town median (37 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). Among 97 Mississippi towns, just 5 have a lower median rent than Tunica. Tunica Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tunica has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Tunica beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 198 in 1890, a peak of 1,685 in 1970, 1,026 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 2002 and 4 maps from 1939 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Tunica, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Tunica.
Most working residents leave Tunica for work: only 11% work in town. At 30 minutes, Tunica’s average trip to work is where Mississippi’s towns sit at 23 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Jobs based in Tunica fell to 654 in 2023, 172 fewer than in 2013.
| Tunica | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 20% | 21% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 11% | 19% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Tunica School District. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunica Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 308 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts
People 65 and older are 35% of residents (17% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 6% of residents (22% statewide). Tunica has lost 20% of its people since 2020, down to 819 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 32% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 25% across Mississippi.
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±8.3 points. Across Mississippi, 51.5% of residents are women.
| Tunica | MS | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 7.8% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.4% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.3% | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 1% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 22.6% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 9.7% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 18.9% | 10.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 16.3% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11.4% | 12.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.1% | 29.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.4% | 21.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 6.1% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 25.6% | 15.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.4% | 9.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 800, single groups can be off by several points
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 74% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 16 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Tunica.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The typical Tunica home is worth about $147,000, up 1.5% in a year, 24% below the Mississippi typical home. 51% of households own their home in Tunica.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Tunica has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Tunica is 91°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
25 crimes were reported in Tunica in 2025: 23 property and 2 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Tunica is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
36% of Tunica adults say their health is fair or poor. Only 1 of the 102 Mississippi towns we compare have a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Tunica. 19% of Tunica adults report frequent mental distress.
| Tunica | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 27% | 19% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 16% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 16% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 36% | 25% |
| What stands out | Tunica | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 10.7% | 13.6% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83.4% | 79.7% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.9% | 8.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rivergate Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Tunica; the nearest are
About 5 of every 100 Tunica residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Mississippi.
Where Tunica’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
7 notable people were born in Tunica.
Town in Mississippi, United States
Tunica is a town in and the county seat of Tunica County, Mississippi, United States, near the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, Tunica had a population of 1,026. Until the early 1990s when casino gambling was introduced in the area, Tunica had been one of the most impoverished places in the United States. Despite this economic improvement, Tunica's population continues to decline from its peak in 1970.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Tunica has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
7 notable people were born here, including Charlaine Harris and James Cotton.