38921 ZIP Code — Charleston, MS

Tallahatchie County, Mississippi

ZIP code 38921 is located in Charleston, Mississippi, within Tallahatchie County. It covers approximately 147.61 square miles and serves a population of 4,923 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 662.

About ZIP code 38921

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 1970s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $101,500. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 62%.

Median household income is $39,428. Poverty affects 29% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 23% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 44% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 24 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 15% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of diabetes (17%), smoking (23%) compared to national benchmarks. 20% of residents lack health insurance, above the national average.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 22%.

Overall, ZIP code 38921 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

4,923

population

147.61

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

38921 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 38921

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 38921. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Charleston	Acceptable
Charleston	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

38928 Glendora (8.9 mi) 38920 Cascilla (10 mi) 38963 Tutwiler (12.1 mi) 38964 Vance (13.8 mi) 38643 Lambert (14.1 mi) 38950 Philipp (14.3 mi) 38927 Enid (14.4 mi) 38944 Minter City (16.6 mi) 38940 Holcomb (18.2 mi) 38953 Scobey (19.9 mi) 38961 Tillatoba (19.9 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	4,923
Population density	33 / sq mi
State FIPS	28
County FIPS	135

Geography
Land area	147.61 sq mi
Water area	2.38 sq mi
Latitude	33.9626
Longitude	-90.1885
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	662

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	63.0%	68.5%	52.9%
$50k – $100k	15.9%	19.4%	28.4%
$100k – $200k	21.0%	11.3%	15.3%
Over $200k	0.1%	0.8%	3.4%

Demographics & statistics

4,923

Population

People per sq mi

35.9

Median age

$39,428

Median household income

$23,863

Per capita income

$101,500

Median home value

$631

Median monthly rent

61.9%

Home ownership

28.8%

Poverty rate

10.3%

Unemployment

1,498

Housing units

15.2%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

173

Under 5

149

138

5–9

119

184

10–14

160

138

15–19

120

114

20–24

371

25–34

321

456

35–44

395

340

45–54

294

244

55–59

212

100

60–64

208

65–74

181

113

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	1,038	21.1%
18 and over	3,885	78.9%
65 and over	710	14.4%
Median age	35.9 years

Race & ethnicity

Black or African American 60.6%

White 36.7%

Two or more races 2.5%

Hispanic or Latino 0.1%

Group	Count	%
Black or African American	2,988	60.6%
White	1,808	36.7%
Two or more races	124	2.5%
Hispanic or Latino	7	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	63.0%	68.5%	52.9%
$50k – $100k	15.9%	19.4%	28.4%
$100k – $200k	21.0%	11.3%	15.3%
Over $200k	0.1%	0.8%	3.4%

Under $10k 4.3%

$10k–$15k 10.6%

$15k–$25k 14.1%

$25k–$35k 16.5%

$35k–$50k 12.8%

$50k–$75k 13.2%

$75k–$100k 9.9%

$100k–$150k 6.8%

$150k–$200k 11.4%

$200k+ 0.4%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	4.3%
$10k–$15k	10.6%
$15k–$25k	14.1%
$25k–$35k	16.5%
$35k–$50k	12.8%
$50k–$75k	13.2%
$75k–$100k	9.9%
$100k–$150k	6.8%
$150k–$200k	11.4%
$200k+	0.4%
Median income	$39,428

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 12.0%

$50k–$100k 37.0%

$100k–$150k 30.7%

$150k–$200k 11.4%

$200k–$300k 7.7%

$300k–$500k 1.2%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$101,500
Median rent / month	$631
Owner occupied	61.9%
Renter occupied	38.1%
Vacant	20.5%
Single-family detached	71.5%
Large apartment buildings	2.6%
Mobile homes	22.9%
Median rooms	5.9
Avg household size (owned)	2.80

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.4%
2010–2019	5.0%
2000–2009	10.6%
1990–1999	11.5%
1980–1989	19.7%
1970–1979	27.9%
1960–1969	11.0%
1950–1959	6.0%
1940–1949	3.6%
1939 or earlier	4.3%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	2.9%
1 bedroom	1.7%
2 bedrooms	32.0%
3 bedrooms	49.5%
4 bedrooms	9.0%
5+ bedrooms	4.9%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	11.5%
1 vehicle	30.8%
2 vehicles	31.5%
3 or more	26.2%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	29.3%
Electricity	33.3%
Propane / LP gas	30.1%
Wood	7.1%
No fuel used	0.2%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	545	31.9%
Cohabiting couple	63	3.7%
Male householder, no spouse	426	24.9%
Female householder, no spouse	675	39.5%
Households with children under 18	482	28.2%
Households with seniors (65+)	462	27.0%
Average household size	2.81

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	44.9%	37.5%
Married	32.0%	34.7%
Separated	1.4%	6.7%
Widowed	2.1%	11.6%
Divorced	19.6%	9.6%

Education

Less than 9th grade 4.2%

Some HS, no diploma 14.9%

HS graduate 36.1%

Some college, no degree 14.7%

Associate's degree 14.9%

Bachelor's degree 5.6%

Graduate / professional 9.6%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	80.9%
Bachelor's or higher	15.2%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	184	16.6%
Kindergarten	50	4.5%
Elementary school	482	43.5%
High school	174	15.7%
College / grad school	219	19.7%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 31.0%

Manufacturing 28.8%

Other services 7.9%

Construction 4.9%

Transportation & utilities 4.9%

Public administration 4.5%

Retail trade 4.4%

Professional & management 4.0%

Agriculture & mining 3.8%

Arts, food & hospitality 2.9%

Wholesale trade 1.6%

Finance & real estate 1.2%

Information 0.2%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	36.5%
Service	16.8%
Sales & office	13.4%
Natural resources & construction	4.4%
Production & transportation	28.9%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	62.1%
Government	24.6%
Self-employed	13.3%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	85.1%
Carpool	3.0%
Public transit	0.6%
Walk	0.0%
Work from home	11.4%
Other means	0.0%
Avg commute (minutes)	24.2

Poverty

All people 28.8%

Under 18 years 45.9%

18 and over 24.1%

Married-couple families 4.6%

Female-led households 54.6%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	43.8%
Retirement income	20.7%
Supplemental Security	8.8%
Cash public assistance	0.5%
Food stamps / SNAP	22.8%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	43.4%
High blood pressure	50.5%
High cholesterol	37.0%
Diabetes	17.2%
Heart disease	8.4%
Stroke	5.6%
Asthma	11.4%
Arthritis	33.0%
Kidney disease	4.3%
Pulmonary disease	9.3%
Cancer	6.2%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	22.9%
Binge drinking	11.3%
No physical activity	36.0%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	37.5%
Depression	20.4%
Fair or poor health	26.9%
Poor mental health	16.0%
Poor physical health	13.8%
No health insurance	23.0%
Visited doctor (checkup)	80.8%
Visited dentist	46.5%
Cholesterol screening	89.0%
Teeth loss	24.1%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	230	5.9%

Disability	%
Any disability	22.2%
Under 18	11.1%
18–64 years	21.6%
65 and over	43.7%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	44.0%
Public insurance	46.3%
No insurance	20.3%
Uninsured under 19	4.2%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	4,601	93.5%
Spanish	10	0.2%
Other Indo-European	4	0.1%
Asian & Pacific Islander	6	0.1%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	4,911	99.8%
Born in same state	4,895	99.4%
Born in different state	4,221	85.7%
Foreign born	16	0.3%
Naturalized citizen	12	0.2%
Not a US citizen	0	0.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
French	996	20.2%
Arab	221	4.5%
Italian	79	1.6%

Ancestry	Count	%
German	14	0.3%
English	6	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	34.7%
Internet access	90.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 38921

What city is ZIP code 38921 in?

ZIP code 38921 is primarily assigned to Charleston, Mississippi.

What county is ZIP code 38921 in?

ZIP code 38921 falls within Tallahatchie County, Mississippi.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 38921?

29% of residents in ZIP code 38921 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

Does ZIP code 38921 have a large retiree population?

44% of households in ZIP code 38921 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 38921?

The median home value in ZIP code 38921 is $101,500.

What are the health statistics for ZIP code 38921?

Health data for ZIP code 38921 shows elevated rates of diabetes (17%) and smoking (23%) compared to national benchmarks.

What timezone is ZIP code 38921 in?

ZIP code 38921 observes the CST timezone.