Zip code 38850: Houlka, Mississippi

Q: What city is zip code 38850?

38850 is assigned to Houlka, Mississippi. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 38850 in?

38850 is mostly in Chickasaw County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 38850?

About 2,972 people live in 38850, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 38850?

The median household income in 38850 is $52,807.

Q: What zip codes are near 38850?

The closest zip codes to 38850 are 38820, 38877, 38864, 38863, 38851.

Residential delivery areaChickasaw CountyCentral Time

Population

2,972

Median household income

$53K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$85K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$655/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

41.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

139 sq mi

21 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 38850

38850 is a rural zip code in Houlka, Mississippi (Chickasaw County), covering 139 sq mi of land. About 2,972 people live here, or 21 per square mile. The median resident is 41.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $52,807 a year, 35% below the national median of $80,734. 23% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $84,700, or 1.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 85% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $655 a month.

11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 26 minutes each way, and 2% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; construction and repair; and transportation and moving goods.

How 38850 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Poverty rate23%
90th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · MS 18.9%158th of 398 in MS
Homeownership rate84.8%
89th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · MS 70%101st of 397 in MS
Housing vacancy12.8%
81st
U.S. 10.1% · MS 14.6%266th of 397 in MS
Residents under 1824.5%
71st
U.S. 22% · MS 23.3%155th of 405 in MS
Median age41.5
68th
U.S. 38.9 · MS 38.6144th of 405 in MS
Government workers16.3%
68th
U.S. 14.5% · MS 18.5%239th of 405 in MS
Uninsured rate8.3%
61st
U.S. 8.4% · MS 11%299th of 403 in MS
Residents 65 and older16.8%
52nd
U.S. 17.2% · MS 17.2%235th of 405 in MS
Average commute26 min
50th
U.S. 26.4 min · MS 25.6 min221st of 393 in MS
Diversity index46.7
46th
U.S. 61.4 · MS 56.1188th of 405 in MS
Rent-burdened renters43.8%
25th
U.S. 51.1% · MS 51.3%216th of 377 in MS
Income inequality (Gini)0.399
20th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · MS 0.482300th of 393 in MS
Median household income$52,807
12th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · MS $56,447172nd of 376 in MS
Median earnings per worker$36,525
12th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · MS $40,605239th of 403 in MS
Per capita income$26,409
11th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · MS $31,549227th of 405 in MS
Unemployment rate2.5%
10th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · MS 5.8%303rd of 405 in MS
Broadband access81.2%
6th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · MS 84.1%174th of 397 in MS
Population2,972
5th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MS 2,946,779200th of 405 in MS
Bachelor's degree or higher11.4%
4th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · MS 25.1%317th of 403 in MS
Healthcare workers5.2%
4th
U.S. 9.7% · MS 11.1%323rd of 405 in MS
Population density21/sq mi
3rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · MS 63/sq mi279th of 405 in MS
Self-employed workers4.7%
3rd
U.S. 10% · MS 9.4%330th of 405 in MS
Median gross rent$655
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · MS $954245th of 319 in MS
Median home value$84,700
1st
U.S. $332,700 · MS $169,800310th of 372 in MS
Work from home2.3%
1st
U.S. 15.1% · MS 5.9%244th of 405 in MS
Veterans0.6%
1st
U.S. 6.2% · MS 6.8%377th of 405 in MS
Foreign-born residents0.1%
1st
U.S. 14.1% · MS 2.4%268th of 405 in MS
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · MS 1.4%251st of 405 in MS

Measure	38850	Chickasaw	MS	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MS
Poverty rateWeakness	23%	23.5%	18.9%	12.5%	90th	158th of 398
Homeownership rateStrength	84.8%	70.3%	70%	65.2%	89th	101st of 397
Housing vacancy	12.8%	15%	14.6%	10.1%	81st	266th of 397
Residents under 18	24.5%	24.8%	23.3%	22%	71st	155th of 405
Median age	41.5	38.4	38.6	38.9	68th	144th of 405
Government workers	16.3%	15.1%	18.5%	14.5%	68th	239th of 405
Uninsured rate	8.3%	11%	11%	8.4%	61st	299th of 403
Residents 65 and older	16.8%	18.6%	17.2%	17.2%	52nd	235th of 405
Average commute	26 min	21.7 min	25.6 min	26.4 min	50th	221st of 393
Diversity index	46.7	52.7	56.1	61.4	46th	188th of 405
Rent-burdened renters	43.8%	40.3%	51.3%	51.1%	25th	216th of 377
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.399	0.472	0.482	0.483	20th	300th of 393
Median household incomeWeakness	$52,807	$43,586	$56,447	$80,734	12th	172nd of 376
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$36,525	$36,502	$40,605	$49,666	12th	239th of 403
Per capita incomeWeakness	$26,409	$23,189	$31,549	$44,673	11th	227th of 405
Unemployment rateStrength	2.5%	4.9%	5.8%	5.2%	10th	303rd of 405
Broadband accessWeakness	81.2%	79.2%	84.1%	91%	6th	174th of 397
Population	2,972	16,915	2,946,779	334,922,499	5th	200th of 405
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	11.4%	12%	25.1%	35.7%	4th	317th of 403
Healthcare workers	5.2%	10.3%	11.1%	9.7%	4th	323rd of 405
Population density	21/sq mi	34/sq mi	63/sq mi	95/sq mi	3rd	279th of 405
Self-employed workers	4.7%	10.4%	9.4%	10%	3rd	330th of 405
Median gross rent	$655	$670	$954	$1,413	2nd	245th of 319
Median home value	$84,700	$109,800	$169,800	$332,700	1st	310th of 372
Work from home	2.3%	4.2%	5.9%	15.1%	1st	244th of 405
Veterans	0.6%	4.4%	6.8%	6.2%	1st	377th of 405
Foreign-born residents	0.1%	0.7%	2.4%	14.1%	1st	268th of 405
Tech workers	0%	0.2%	1.4%	3.8%	1st	251st of 405

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

20%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

10%

35–44

16%

45–54

13%

55–64

13%

65–74

75+

Median age

41.5

Under 18

24.5%

65 and over

16.8%

Race and ethnicity

White66%
Black31%
Hispanic1%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

46.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

88%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

100%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,283
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 67%
Married couples: 38%
Living alone: 31.6%
Veterans (of adults): 0.6%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

26%

$25–50k

23%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

18%

$100–150k

11%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

38850

$52,807

Chickasaw Co.

$43,586

Mississippi

$56,447

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$26,409

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

23%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.399

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

38850

$84,700

Chickasaw Co.

$109,800

Mississippi

$169,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

38850

$655

Chickasaw Co.

$670

Mississippi

$954

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

65%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.1%

20+ units

0.1%

Mobile home

32%

Boat, RV, van

0.4%

Housing units: 1,472
Owner-occupied: 84.8%
Vacant: 12.8%
Median year built: 1983
Median rooms: 5.7
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 43.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 38%
Home value to income: 1.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

92%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.1%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10%

10–19

26%

20–29

32%

30–44

13%

45–59

60+

10%

Average commute

26 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

57.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

26%

Construction and repair

10%

Transportation and moving

10%

Sales

Management

Police and fire

Office and admin

Healthcare

Education

Food service

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Legal and social services

0.8%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.7%

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Manufacturing

42%

Retail

Education

Public administration

Health care and social assistance

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Agriculture and mining

Information

0.2%

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$36,525

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

4.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

6.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	38850	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$47,200	$74,888
Service	$26,000	$26,804
Sales and office	$24,485	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$37,105	$49,199
Production and transportation	$42,629	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

18%

High school

46%

Some college

16%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 82.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 11.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.2%
Households with broadband: 81.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 41.1%
No internet access: 17.8%
Without health insurance: 8.3%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Houlka
State: Mississippi
County: Chickasaw County
Center point: 34.0589° N, 89.0579° W
Land area: 139 sq mi
Water area: 1.2 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

38850 spans 3 counties

Chickasaw County61% of land
Calhoun County21% of land
Pontotoc County18% of land

Zip codes near 38850

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
38820	Algoma, MS · PO box	7.9 mi	—	—	—
38877	Van Vleet, MS · PO box	10 mi	—	—	—
38864	Randolph, MS	11 mi	2,100	$54,130	$161,500
38863	Pontotoc, MS	11 mi	19,046	$49,528	$156,400
38851	Houston, MS	12 mi	8,802	$45,365	$142,900
38875	Trebloc, MS · PO box	12 mi	—	—	—
38878	Vardaman, MS	15 mi	2,449	$42,472	$75,100
38951	Pittsboro, MS	15 mi	1,075	$40,568	$60,100
38874	Toccopola, MS · PO box	16 mi	—	—	—
38860	Okolona, MS	18 mi	5,388	$41,293	$100,400
38803	Tupelo, MS · PO box	18 mi	—	—	—
38868	Shannon, MS	19 mi	4,371	$41,030	$142,300

Zip codes like 38850 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 38850

What city is zip code 38850?

38850 is assigned to Houlka, Mississippi. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 38850 in?

38850 is mostly in Chickasaw County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 38850?

About 2,972 people live in 38850, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 38850 in?

38850 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 38850?

The median household income in 38850 is $52,807.

What zip codes are near 38850?

The closest zip codes to 38850 are 38820, 38877, 38864, 38863, 38851.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 38850, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.