Bay Saint Louis, MS · standard
ZIP Code 39520
Hancock County, Mississippi - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,681
- 61/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $62,176
- Median income Near-median income area
- $225,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 30.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bay Saint Louis pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 33rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 49%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 61
- people per sq mi
- 75%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 39520 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 39520 (Bay Saint Louis, MS) rose +1.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 300.3 in 2023 to 303.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 39520 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bay Saint Louis, Hancock County, Mississippi, home to 14,681 residents across 240.3 square miles, a density of 61 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 39520 reports a modest median household income of $62,176 (18% above the average Mississippi ZIP), while per-capita income is $45,585. The poverty rate is 16.5%, with unemployment at 7.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $225,600 (68% above the average Mississippi ZIP), while 75.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,127.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 30.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 50.2, and the average commute is 28 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 4 more in Hancock County, so 39520 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 39520
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bay Saint Louis, MS
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 39520.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
65 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
48 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
39 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
36 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
30 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 39520, Bay Saint Louis, MS · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
14,681
Population
240.3
Area (sq mi)
61
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 39520?
50.2
Median Age
47.0%
Male
53.0%
Female
2.8%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$62,176
Median Household Income
+18% vs state ZIP avg
$45,585
Per Capita Income
16.5%
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Unemployment Rate
27.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 39520 ranks among Mississippi ZIPs
Bay Saint Louis, MS household income vs. every Mississippi ZIP code
Median household income among 377 reporting Mississippi ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$62,176 Top 28% higher than 72% of 377 Mississippi ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Mississippi ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,994housing units
8,994
Total Housing Units
7,213
Occupied Units
1,781
Vacant Units
2.13
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$225,600
Median Home Value
+68% vs state ZIP avg
$1,127
Median Rent
1998
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+1.2%
YoY Change (2024)
304
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+204%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 39520 have increased 1.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +204% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.5% | 206 |
| 2021 | +13.1% | 233 |
| 2022 | +10.2% | 256 |
| 2023 | +17.1% | 300 |
| 2024 | +1.2% | 304 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 346 business establishments in ZIP 39520, employing approximately 3,909 people with a combined annual payroll of $178,622,000.
346
Businesses
3,909
Employees
$178.6M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 65 | 18.8% |
| Retail trade | 48 | 13.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 39 | 11.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 36 | 10.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 30 | 8.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 26 | 7.5% |
| Construction | 23 | 6.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 18 | 5.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14 | 4.0% |
| Manufacturing | 13 | 3.8% |
| Information | 8 | 2.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 2.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 5 | 1.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 39520 vs 39576 →
ZIP 39520 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 39520
Bay Saint Louis (39520)
14,681 residents
- 39525
Diamondhead (39525)
8,383 residents
- 39576 5,809
Waveland (39576)
5,809 residents
- 39572 1,414
Pearlington (39572)
1,414 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 39520 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 39520 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 39525
Diamondhead (39525)
$87,407 median income
- 39576
Waveland (39576)
$70,217 median income
- 39520
Bay Saint Louis (39520)
$62,176 median income
- 39572
Pearlington (39572)
$44,786 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 39520 ranks #3 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 39520, both outside MS so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (14,681 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Hancock County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 39520 in?
ZIP code 39520 (Bay Saint Louis) is located in Hancock County, Mississippi. Hancock County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/hancock-ms.
What is the population of ZIP code 39520?
ZIP code 39520 in Bay Saint Louis, MS has a population of 14,681 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 39520?
The median household income in ZIP 39520 is $62,176, which is 18% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 39520?
The median home value in ZIP 39520 is $225,600, which is 19% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 39520?
The largest racial group in ZIP 39520 is White at 80.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 39520?
ZIP code 39520 has 346 business establishments employing approximately 3,909 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 39520?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 39520 are: Accommodation and food services (65), Retail trade (48), Health care and social assistance (39). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 39520?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 39520 increased by 1.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 204%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 39520?
In ZIP code 39520, 56.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 30.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 39520?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 39520 is 27.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 39520?
In ZIP code 39520, approximately 75.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 39520?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 39520 is 16.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 39520's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 39520 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bay Saint Louis, MS ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.