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Living in
Jackson.
About
Life in Jackson
If you're considering Jackson, understand this is a working city—not a destination. The cost of living is genuinely affordable with median home values around $218,000 and median household income near $53,032, which gives you reasonable purchasing power. Job availability is decent at 4.2% unemployment, and the 17-minute average commute won't eat up your day.
Jackson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.2%
Foreign-Born
3.9%
Broadband Internet
89.3%
of households
Population Growth
+1.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.9% 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 (26.8%), and 3.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
16.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.4%
of households
Married Couples
34.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
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 about average for TN
Rent, home values, and income in Jackson
In Jackson, home values are 24% below the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
85.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,527
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $220,277 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above TN average
Unemployment in Jackson
Unemployment in Jackson is 0.7 percentage points higher than the TN 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
Commute18.2 min avg
How Jackson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Jackson, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 84% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport (MKL)
Regional airport · few flights10k passengers boarded in 2025
- 125 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M 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 121% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Jackson runs 121% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
727.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,644.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Jackson Police Department
Natural DisastersHeat most common — 32 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Madison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Madison County, which includes Jackson, the most common type is heat, with 32 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | Heat | $112,000 |
| 2024 | 20 | Heat | $182,500 |
| 2023 | 22 | Heat | $75,000 |
| 2022 | 21 | Winter Weather | $930,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | Heat | $738,000 |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,000 |
| 2019 | 10 | Flash Flood | $275,000 |
| 2018 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $60,500 |
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.
8 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Madison County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Madison County, which includes Jackson, is typically good — 263 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
263
per year
Moderate Days
91
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Madison County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 30°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 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
56.9"
Annual Snowfall
2.7"
Hot Days/Year
56
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
71
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
122
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 27°F | 4.29" |
| Feb | 53°F | 30°F | 4.65" |
| Mar | 62°F | 39°F | 5.75" |
| Apr | 73°F | 48°F | 5.46" |
| May | 80°F | 58°F | 5.33" |
| Jun | 88°F | 66°F | 5.08" |
| Jul | 91°F | 69°F | 4.99" |
| Aug | 90°F | 67°F | 3.57" |
| Sep | 85°F | 60°F | 4.07" |
| Oct | 74°F | 48°F | 3.97" |
| Nov | 61°F | 37°F | 4.45" |
| Dec | 52°F | 31°F | 5.28" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Jackson
Jackson has 3 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
10.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Jackson-madison County General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Pathways of Tennessee, Inc.
Psychiatric
Perimeter Behavioral Center of Jackson
Psychiatric
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.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Jackson
Jackson's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
22
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Jackson
Jackson State Community College
Public · 2-year · 2,511 students · in-state tuition $5,204 · 28% graduate · median earnings $39,715 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,607 students · in-state tuition $41,470 · 67% graduate · median earnings $58,910 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 736 students · in-state tuition $13,068 · 23% graduate · median earnings $35,657 (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: Shiloh National Military Park, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Jackson
Jackson has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Shiloh National Military Park (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Shiloh National Military Park
National Military Park
45 mi awayTrail Of Tears National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
55 mi awayFort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
77 mi awayBrices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
National Battlefield Site
80 mi awayNatchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
92 mi awayTupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Jackson
Jackson-Madison County Library
433 East Lafayette Street, Jackson
Jackson-Madison County Library North
3189 North Highland Ave Units F & G, 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, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Jackson's median rent is $1,145/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,032/year. Median home value is $217,800.
Is Jackson, Tennessee safe?⌄
Jackson's violent crime rate was 727 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2644 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Jackson, Tennessee?⌄
Jackson has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Jackson, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Jackson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,145/month and median household income is $53,032/year. The median home value is $217,800. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Jackson, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Jackson is 18 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