38965 ZIP Code — Water Valley, MS

Yalobusha County, Mississippi

ZIP code 38965 is located in Water Valley, Mississippi, within Yalobusha County. It covers approximately 251.64 square miles and serves a population of 8,807 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 662.

About ZIP code 38965

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 1980s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $109,200. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 73%.

Median household income is $52,418. 45% 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 27 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 17% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (20%) compared to national benchmarks.

Overall, ZIP code 38965 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

8,807

population

251.64

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

38965 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 38965

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 38965. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Water Valley	Acceptable
Water Valley	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

38673 Taylor (9.1 mi) 38948 Oakland (14.6 mi) 38922 Coffeeville (14.9 mi) 38949 Paris (15.2 mi) 38675 Oxford (15.9 mi) 38915 Bruce (16.1 mi) 38655 Oxford (16.3 mi) 38961 Tillatoba (17.4 mi) 38658 Pope (17.8 mi) 38620 Courtland (17.9 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	8,807
Population density	35 / sq mi
State FIPS	28
County FIPS	161

Geography
Land area	251.64 sq mi
Water area	9.03 sq mi
Latitude	34.1390
Longitude	-89.6147
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	55.3%	57.7%	52.9%
$50k – $100k	31.0%	30.1%	28.4%
$100k – $200k	13.0%	11.8%	15.3%
Over $200k	0.6%	0.4%	3.4%

Demographics & statistics

8,807

Population

People per sq mi

40.7

Median age

$52,418

Median household income

$27,139

Per capita income

$109,200

Median home value

$782

Median monthly rent

73.0%

Home ownership

17.0%

Poverty rate

3.5%

Unemployment

3,240

Housing units

16.7%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

318

Under 5

372

306

5–9

358

174

10–14

204

228

15–19

265

157

20–24

184

498

25–34

582

539

35–44

630

376

45–54

438

299

55–59

349

297

60–64

347

567

65–74

662

225

75–84

262

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	2,043	23.2%
18 and over	6,764	76.8%
65 and over	1,886	21.4%
Median age	40.7 years

Race & ethnicity

White 66.9%

Black or African American 31.5%

Two or more races 0.7%

Hispanic or Latino 0.3%

Other race 0.3%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%

Group	Count	%
White	5,910	66.9%
Black or African American	2,782	31.5%
Two or more races	63	0.7%
Hispanic or Latino	29	0.3%
Other race	28	0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native	24	0.3%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	55.3%	57.7%	52.9%
$50k – $100k	31.0%	30.1%	28.4%
$100k – $200k	13.0%	11.8%	15.3%
Over $200k	0.6%	0.4%	3.4%

Under $10k 3.9%

$10k–$15k 4.8%

$15k–$25k 11.8%

$25k–$35k 12.0%

$35k–$50k 14.6%

$50k–$75k 19.7%

$75k–$100k 13.4%

$100k–$150k 10.7%

$150k–$200k 8.0%

$200k+ 1.3%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	3.9%
$10k–$15k	4.8%
$15k–$25k	11.8%
$25k–$35k	12.0%
$35k–$50k	14.6%
$50k–$75k	19.7%
$75k–$100k	13.4%
$100k–$150k	10.7%
$150k–$200k	8.0%
$200k+	1.3%
Median income	$52,418

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 14.0%

$50k–$100k 32.0%

$100k–$150k 14.2%

$150k–$200k 17.8%

$200k–$300k 13.6%

$300k–$500k 4.8%

$500k–$1M 3.4%

$1M+ 0.4%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$109,200
Median rent / month	$782
Owner occupied	73.0%
Renter occupied	27.0%
Vacant	16.7%
Single-family detached	68.0%
Large apartment buildings	0.3%
Mobile homes	26.7%
Median rooms	5.6
Avg household size (owned)	2.38

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	1.2%
2010–2019	8.7%
2000–2009	10.5%
1990–1999	11.3%
1980–1989	23.7%
1970–1979	14.7%
1960–1969	10.7%
1950–1959	8.2%
1940–1949	2.2%
1939 or earlier	8.6%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.2%
1 bedroom	2.2%
2 bedrooms	27.5%
3 bedrooms	56.5%
4 bedrooms	11.9%
5+ bedrooms	1.6%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	4.8%
1 vehicle	25.4%
2 vehicles	44.5%
3 or more	25.3%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	15.6%
Electricity	49.2%
Propane / LP gas	30.5%
Wood	4.2%
No fuel used	0.5%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	1,684	48.3%
Cohabiting couple	188	5.4%
Male householder, no spouse	570	16.4%
Female householder, no spouse	1,041	29.9%
Households with children under 18	975	28.0%
Households with seniors (65+)	1,332	38.2%
Average household size	2.46

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	26.0%	28.9%
Married	51.4%	47.4%
Separated	6.7%	0.8%
Widowed	3.7%	10.6%
Divorced	12.1%	12.3%

Education

Less than 9th grade 4.7%

Some HS, no diploma 6.2%

HS graduate 39.4%

Some college, no degree 22.5%

Associate's degree 10.4%

Bachelor's degree 10.6%

Graduate / professional 6.1%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	89.0%
Bachelor's or higher	16.7%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	189	10.8%
Kindergarten	74	4.2%
Elementary school	769	44.1%
High school	393	22.5%
College / grad school	320	18.3%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 31.9%

Manufacturing 16.2%

Construction 10.2%

Professional & management 8.0%

Arts, food & hospitality 7.6%

Transportation & utilities 6.4%

Public administration 5.6%

Retail trade 5.4%

Other services 3.9%

Finance & real estate 3.1%

Agriculture & mining 1.0%

Information 0.7%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	32.1%
Service	25.3%
Sales & office	15.8%
Natural resources & construction	10.2%
Production & transportation	16.5%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	69.1%
Government	19.1%
Self-employed	11.5%
Unpaid family workers	0.3%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	90.6%
Carpool	5.5%
Public transit	0.2%
Walk	0.3%
Work from home	2.7%
Other means	0.7%
Avg commute (minutes)	26.7

Poverty

All people 17.0%

Under 18 years 25.9%

18 and over 14.2%

Married-couple families 3.0%

Female-led households 34.7%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	45.1%
Retirement income	23.8%
Supplemental Security	6.4%
Cash public assistance	1.0%
Food stamps / SNAP	10.4%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	39.4%
High blood pressure	44.4%
High cholesterol	37.1%
Diabetes	13.6%
Heart disease	8.0%
Stroke	4.4%
Asthma	9.8%
Arthritis	31.1%
Kidney disease	3.6%
Pulmonary disease	8.7%
Cancer	6.9%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	20.3%
Binge drinking	13.5%
No physical activity	29.6%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	33.1%
Depression	21.8%
Fair or poor health	21.0%
Poor mental health	14.8%
Poor physical health	12.0%
No health insurance	19.1%
Visited doctor (checkup)	78.0%
Visited dentist	54.0%
Cholesterol screening	89.4%
Teeth loss	18.4%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	525	7.8%

Disability	%
Any disability	15.9%
Under 18	3.9%
18–64 years	11.5%
65 and over	42.0%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	56.7%
Public insurance	43.7%
No insurance	12.0%
Uninsured under 19	1.4%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	8,117	92.2%
Spanish	47	0.6%
Other Indo-European	47	0.6%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	8,783	99.7%
Born in same state	8,768	99.6%
Born in different state	7,016	79.7%
Foreign born	15	0.2%
Naturalized citizen	24	0.3%
Not a US citizen	20	83.3%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	951	10.8%
Arab	638	7.2%
French	556	6.3%

Ancestry	Count	%
English	94	1.1%
German	13	0.1%
Polish	6	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	39.5%
Internet access	85.1%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 38965

What city is ZIP code 38965 in?

ZIP code 38965 is primarily assigned to Water Valley, Mississippi.

What county is ZIP code 38965 in?

ZIP code 38965 falls within Yalobusha County, Mississippi.

Does ZIP code 38965 have a large retiree population?

45% of households in ZIP code 38965 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 38965?

17% of residents in ZIP code 38965 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 38965?

The median home value in ZIP code 38965 is $109,200.

What is the population of ZIP code 38965?

ZIP code 38965 has an estimated population of 8,807 residents, with a density of 35 people per square mile.

What timezone is ZIP code 38965 in?

ZIP code 38965 observes the CST timezone.