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Living in
Jackson.
About
Life in Jackson
If you're considering Jackson, you're looking at a mid-sized industrial city that's honest about its past and still finding its footing economically. The job market is steady but not booming—CMS Energy, Henry Ford Health, and Eaton Corporation are the major employers, with smaller manufacturing operations still operating, though the automotive sector's restructuring over the past few decades has meant slower population growth overall. Housing is genuinely affordable compared to regional alternatives, with median home values around $103,000 and rent averaging under $900, which matters if you're budget-conscious.
Jackson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.6%
Foreign-Born
1.9%
Broadband Internet
92.5%
of households
Population Growth
-0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Jackson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Jackson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (29.2%), and 3.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.9%
of residents
65 and Older
13.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
44.1%
of households
Married Couples
26.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.29
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 20% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Jackson
In Jackson, rent runs 20% below the MI average, and home values are 55% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,753
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
10.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $190,396 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 4.8 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Jackson
Unemployment in Jackson is 4.8 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Jackson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17 min avg
How Jackson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Jackson, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 38 mi
Capital Region International Airport (LAN)
Regional airport · few flights117k passengers boarded in 2025
- 54 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 166% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Jackson runs 166% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
876
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,166.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Jackson Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
76.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jackson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jackson County, which includes Jackson, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32,000 |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2022 | 4 | Winter Storm | $20,000 |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $305,000 |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $88,000 |
| 2019 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.0M |
| 2018 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $210,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jackson County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ingham County, MI (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 25 miles from Jackson) is typically good — 265 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
265
per year
Moderate Days
92
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Ingham County, MI (25 mi away)
Climate81°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Jackson has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
32.2"
Annual Snowfall
40.4"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
137
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
133
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 18°F | 1.67" |
| Feb | 35°F | 19°F | 1.52" |
| Mar | 45°F | 27°F | 1.93" |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 2.94" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.40" |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 3.58" |
| Jul | 83°F | 61°F | 3.35" |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 3.81" |
| Sep | 74°F | 52°F | 2.98" |
| Oct | 61°F | 41°F | 2.92" |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 2.33" |
| Dec | 36°F | 24°F | 1.76" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Jackson
Jackson has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Henry Ford Allegiance Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Jackson
Jackson's student/teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 57 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Jackson
Jackson has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (57 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
57 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Jackson
Jackson District Library
244 West Michigan Avenue, Jackson
Cities Near Jackson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Jackson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Jackson FAQ
Is Jackson, Michigan affordable?⌄
Jackson's median rent is $898/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,558/year. Median home value is $103,200.
Is Jackson, Michigan safe?⌄
Jackson's violent crime rate was 876 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3166 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Jackson, Michigan?⌄
Jackson has an unemployment rate of 10.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Jackson, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Jackson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $898/month and median household income is $44,558/year. The median home value is $103,200. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Jackson, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Jackson is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from