The city of Carthage is the county seat of Leake County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2020 census, Carthage had a population of 4,901. Carthage is home to the Carthage Historic District including the Leake County Courthouse, a Mississippi Landmark. The largest chicken processing plant in the world is located in Carthage.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Carthage ranks

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#14Cheapest rent in MS #27Lowest depression in MS #51Most affordable in MS All MS rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code39051

Area code601

Living in Carthage

Housing in Carthage

$166K▲ 5.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Carthage home is worth about $166,000, up 5.9% in a year, 16% below the Mississippi typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Carthage

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Most working residents leave Carthage for work: only 19% work in town. The top destinations are Jackson (7%), Pearl River (6%) and Forest (5%). Half commute less than 28 miles.

Jackson

Pearl River

Forest

Flowood

19%Work in townlive and work in Carthage 28 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,550Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Carthage →

Health in Carthage

D⁻

Health Grade D−

Healthier than 4% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 19% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Mississippi

1better than MS·13worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 2▼ 9 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.4%Fewer adults who have had cancerMS 7.6% · better 18.2%More uninsured adultsMS 11.5% · worse

Care nearby

Baptist Medical Center-LeakeCarthage · 3.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

G. A. Carmichael Family Health CenterCarthage · 0.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Carthage · CMS · HRSAHealth in Carthage →

Natural hazards in Carthage

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 46% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes💨 Strong wind

20Does Carthage flood?paid flood claims since 1979 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Carthage

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Carthage →

Climate in Carthage

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Carthage has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 34°, and snow is almost unheard of.

59° / 36°Winter

76° / 51°Spring

90° / 69°Summer

77° / 51°Fall

How much snow does Carthage get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 7, with the last in spring around Mar 19.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.4° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Carthage →

Schools in Carthage

All Carthage schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Carthage’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 68% of Mississippi’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Carthage’s schools compare in MS →

DistrictLeake County School DistrictSchools5

Leake Central Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 850 students Leake Central Junior High School C-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 383 students Leake Central High School C+High · Grades 9–13 · 592 students Leake Co Career & Technical CenterHigh · Grades 9–12 Carthage Christian AcademyOther · Grades 1–12 · 49 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MS. Ratings are from neighbors.