Sharkey County, MS Insulation Payback
Sharkey County, MS: what topping up your attic actually costs
DOE classifies Sharkey County as climate zone 3, mixed-humid — a genuine mix of cold winters and humid summers, with neither one dominating the bill. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is R-49. Going from R-2 to the recommended R-49 costs roughly $2,820 installed for a typical attic (about 1,000 sq ft), and pays for itself in about 2.7 years at an estimated $1,027/year saved.
That's about as fast as attic paybacks get.
Where the savings come from
The estimated savings split roughly $609/year heating, $417/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Sharkey County's savings potential beats roughly 18 of them. Within zone 3 specifically, it ranks 418th of 690 counties by estimated savings. Mississippi averages $1,022/year across the counties tracked here; Sharkey County comes in 0% higher.
The climate data behind this
NOAA's Rolling Fork, MS US station, 3.4 miles from Sharkey County, supplies the 2,297 HDD and 2,617 CDD this estimate runs on. Combined heating and cooling load puts Sharkey County in the 23rd percentile of this 3,171-county dataset. Sharkey County falls in DOE's moisture regime A (humid), a detail that affects vapor-barrier recommendations more than the R-value target itself.
The smaller top-up scenario
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-38 runs about $1,620 for about $138/year saved — roughly 11.7 years to break even. This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
Getting it done in Sharkey County
Real bids depend on how easy the attic is to reach and whether old insulation needs removing first, so treat $2,820 as a starting estimate for a Sharkey County job, not a quote. You should get more than one quote before signing anything - expect at least a $600 minimum charge from most contractors.
Nothing here is a guess
Every figure on this page traces to DOE/IECC climate zones and NOAA degree-day normals, documented in the methodology guide. The guide to what R-value actually means explains why R-49 is the target here specifically.