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Living in
Jackson.
About
Life in Jackson
Living in Jackson means settling into a quiet, family-oriented community where your paycheck stretches further than it would in most places — median household income sits at a healthy $77,105 with a median home value around $240,000, and rent averaging $900 a month keeps your housing costs reasonable. The job market is stable with unemployment at just 3.6%, though if you're looking for specialized career growth, you'll likely find yourself commuting to Cape Girardeau (just seven miles away) or considering larger regional options, which most people handle in about 20 minutes. The community itself skews toward established families and older residents, with a median age of 37.8 and about a third of households raising kids, so you'll find solid schools and a fairly traditional, family-focused culture — don't expect a young, transient vibe here.
Jackson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Foreign-Born
1.7%
Broadband Internet
91.0%
of households
Population Growth
+3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.7% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Jackson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Jackson, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (21.7%), and 1.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.7%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.2%
of households
Married Couples
56.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
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 13% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Jackson
In Jackson, rent runs 13% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
33.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
86.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,622
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $272,050 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MO average
Unemployment in Jackson
Unemployment in Cape Girardeau County, which includes Jackson, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MO average.
Unemployment rate
Jackson: Cape Girardeau County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cape Girardeau County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Jackson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.2 min avg
How Jackson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Jackson, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI)
Regional airport · few flights10k passengers boarded in 2025
- 102 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M 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 77% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Jackson runs 77% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
74.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
785.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Jackson Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 36 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cape Girardeau County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cape Girardeau County, which includes Jackson, the most common type is strong wind, with 36 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | Dense Fog | $740,000 |
| 2024 | 43 | Dense Fog | $257,000 |
| 2023 | 35 | Strong Wind | $89,000 |
| 2022 | 37 | Strong Wind | $17,000 |
| 2021 | 30 | Strong Wind | $42,000 |
| 2020 | 32 | Strong Wind | $859,000 |
| 2019 | 47 | Flood | $550,000 |
| 2018 | 50 | Strong Wind | $110,000 |
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.
11 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cape Girardeau County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Perry County, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 24 miles from Jackson) is typically good — 216 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
216
per year
Moderate Days
38
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Perry County, MO (24 mi away)
Climate89°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Jackson has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.5"
Annual Snowfall
7.5"
Hot Days/Year
57
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
91
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 24°F | 3.34" |
| Feb | 46°F | 27°F | 3.68" |
| Mar | 57°F | 35°F | 5.01" |
| Apr | 69°F | 46°F | 5.51" |
| May | 78°F | 56°F | 5.53" |
| Jun | 87°F | 65°F | 4.20" |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.29" |
| Aug | 89°F | 67°F | 3.61" |
| Sep | 82°F | 59°F | 3.40" |
| Oct | 70°F | 47°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 55°F | 35°F | 4.57" |
| Dec | 45°F | 28°F | 3.70" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Jackson
Uninsured
5.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Jackson's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Saint Francis Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.9 mi away · Cape Girardeau
Mercy Hospital Southeast
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.6 mi away · Cape Girardeau
Southeast Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 7.9 mi away · Cape Girardeau
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.
Education16.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Jackson
Jackson's student/teacher ratio is 16.1:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 35.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Jackson (within 15 miles)
Southeast Missouri State University
8.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,373 students · in-state tuition $10,194 · 54% graduate · median earnings $48,748 (10 yrs after entry)
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences
7.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 200 students · in-state tuition $11,064 · 71% graduate · median earnings $70,380 (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: Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park, 47 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Jackson
Jackson has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park (47 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
47 mi awayOzark National Scenic Riverways
National Scenic Riverways
90 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
90 mi awayGateway Arch National Park
National Park
91 mi awayTrail Of Tears National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Jackson
Riverside Regional Library
1997 E Jackson Blvd, 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, Missouri affordable?⌄
Jackson's median rent is $900/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $77,105/year. Median home value is $240,000.
Is Jackson, Missouri safe?⌄
Jackson's violent crime rate was 75 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 785 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Jackson, Missouri?⌄
Cape Girardeau County, which includes Jackson, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Jackson, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Jackson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $900/month and median household income is $77,105/year. The median home value is $240,000. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Jackson, Missouri?⌄
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