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Living in
Jackson.
About
Life in Jackson
The economy runs on government jobs (the capital functions matter), education (University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson State University, and the public school system employ thousands), and manufacturing, which provides stability but doesn't generate explosive job growth; unemployment sits at a manageable 4.1%, but the median household income of $42,071 reflects the reality that these aren't high-wage positions. The city has soul—literally, that's the slogan—rooted in a deep blues, gospel, and jazz heritage with museums, live music venues, and cultural institutions that reflect Jackson's pivotal role in American history, plus a growing Latino community adding new energy to neighborhoods and the food scene. Weekends mean exploring the Pearl River, catching events at Jackson State's stadium, or heading to nearby Vicksburg (37 miles) for outdoor recreation, though you'll be car-dependent because Jackson sprawls across 113 square miles with limited walkability in most neighborhoods.
Jackson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.9%
Foreign-Born
1.6%
Broadband Internet
89.8%
of households
Population Growth
-8.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.6% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Jackson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Jackson, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (28.3%), and 2.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.9%
of residents
65 and Older
15.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.9%
of households
Married Couples
23.7%
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 11% above MS average
Rent, home values, and income in Jackson
In Jackson, rent runs 11% above the MS average, and home values are 34% below the MS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,352
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
18.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $83,517 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MS
Unemployment in Jackson
Unemployment in Jackson is close to the MS 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
Commute19.9 min avg
How Jackson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Jackson, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
Small hub600k 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 22% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Jackson runs 22% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
400.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,501.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Jackson Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 24 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
94.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hinds County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hinds County, which includes Jackson, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 24 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $181,000 |
| 2024 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2023 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $14.1M |
| 2022 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.9M |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.2M |
| 2020 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.6M |
| 2019 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.4M |
| 2018 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $446,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hinds County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hinds County, which includes Jackson, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
167
per year
Moderate Days
198
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hinds County, county-wide
Climate92°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Jackson has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.3"
Annual Snowfall
1.0"
Hot Days/Year
83
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
32
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
109
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 38°F | 5.09" |
| Feb | 62°F | 41°F | 4.36" |
| Mar | 70°F | 48°F | 4.83" |
| Apr | 77°F | 55°F | 5.28" |
| May | 84°F | 63°F | 3.94" |
| Jun | 90°F | 71°F | 3.92" |
| Jul | 92°F | 73°F | 4.65" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 3.44" |
| Sep | 88°F | 68°F | 3.34" |
| Oct | 79°F | 56°F | 3.57" |
| Nov | 67°F | 45°F | 4.20" |
| Dec | 60°F | 40°F | 4.71" |
Healthcare7 hospitals, avg 2.6/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Jackson
Jackson has 7 hospitals, averaging 2.6 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
7
within city limits
Uninsured
14.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.6 / 5
G. V. (sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center (jackson)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
Merit Health Central
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
University of Mississippi Med Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
St Dominic-jackson Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Merit Health Women's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 6.2 mi away · Flowood
Merit Health River Oaks
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.2 mi away · Flowood
Brentwood Behavioral Healthcare of Ms
Psychiatric · ER available · 6.9 mi away · Flowood
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.
Education13.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Jackson
Jackson's student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
60
within city limits
Private Schools
11
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Jackson
Public · 4-year · 4,600 students · in-state tuition $9,635 · 40% graduate · median earnings $42,075 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,471 students · in-state tuition $30,400 · 45% graduate · median earnings $50,101 (10 yrs after entry)
Strayer University-Mississippi
Private for-profit · 4-year · 882 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 8% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 639 students · in-state tuition $12,628 · 35% graduate · median earnings $41,624 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 549 students · in-state tuition $45,570 · 56% graduate · median earnings $65,503 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Mississippi Christian University
7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,518 students · in-state tuition $24,600 · 58% graduate · median earnings $54,122 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Jackson
Jackson has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
2 mi awayVicksburg National Military Park
National Military Park
37 mi awayPoverty Point National Monument
National Monument
73 mi awayNatchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Jackson
Eudora Welty Library
300 North State Street, Jackson
Fannie Lou Hamer Library
3450 Albermarle Road, Jackson
Margaret Walker Alexander Library
2525 Robinson Road, Jackson
Medgar Evers Library
4215 Medgar Evers Boulevard, Jackson
R.G. Bolden/Anna Bell-Moore Library
1444 Wiggins Road, Jackson
Richard Wright Library
515 West Mcdowell Road, Jackson
Willie Morris Library
4912 Old Canton Road, 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, Mississippi affordable?⌄
Jackson's median rent is $1,055/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $42,071/year. Median home value is $111,700.
Is Jackson, Mississippi safe?⌄
Jackson's violent crime rate was 400 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1502 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Jackson, Mississippi?⌄
Jackson has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Jackson, Mississippi?⌄
The cost of living in Jackson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,055/month and median household income is $42,071/year. The median home value is $111,700. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Jackson, Mississippi?⌄
The average commute in Jackson is 20 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