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Benton County, Mississippi
A shallow water table limits basements on 37% of Benton County's mapped land, a higher share than 56% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 0%.
100% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 44% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1985.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Benton County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.0% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 37.1% |
| Septic fields very limited | 98.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 1.8% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.0% |
| Mapped soil | 261,600 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Smithdale | 25% | 0% |
| Providence | 15% | n/a |
| Lexington | 13% | n/a |
| Toinette | 10% | n/a |
| Sweatman | 6% | n/a |
| Gillsburg | 5% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas MS009 (2025-09-04)
What the numbers mean here
On 37% of Benton County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 43.90 in, 13.31 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 57.21 in.
USDA rates 99% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
100% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 28 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 11 weeks, most recently on the October 13, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 100% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 100% |
| D2 severe or worse | 56.2% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Benton County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 57.21 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 43.90 in (-13.31) |
| 2025 | 54.45 in (-2.76) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1979: 78.24 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1918: 37.17 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at ASHLAND (4 mi away) | 17.6 |
Homes
| Housing units | 4,091 |
| Median year built | 1985 |
| Built before 1980 | 44% |
| Built 2000 or later | 34% |
| Owner-occupied | 86% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $105,100 |
| Single-family detached | 69% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tippah County, MS | 16 mi | 14% | 49% |
| Marshall County, MS | 18 mi | 2% | 56% |
| Union County, MS | 25 mi | 9% | 50% |
| Fayette County, TN | 29 mi | 0% | 71% |
| Hardeman County, TN | 31 mi | 7% | 39% |
| Lafayette County, MS | 35 mi | 14% | 33% |
| Alcorn County, MS | 35 mi | 2% | 63% |
| Prentiss County, MS | 41 mi | 15% | 49% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 4, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status