The Town FilesJackson, Alabama
City in Clarke County · population 4,748 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $130,900
- Household income
- $37,948
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 42.6
Jackson is a city of 4,748 people in Clarke County, Alabama. The median home is worth $130,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks hipper than 85% of Alabama towns, easier by car than 76% of Alabama towns.
How Jackson ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jackson is worth $130,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $37,948, which is more affordable than 27% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $647 a month. 65.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jackson | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $130,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $647 | $834 |
| Median household income | $37,948 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.7% | — |
Who lives in Jackson
| People | Jackson | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.1% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.9% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 14.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 86.7% |
Weather in Jackson
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 36.0°F. About 60.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 79 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 46 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 24, 1984 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 30, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 31, 2013.
Severe weather in Clarke County since 1996
Clarke County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 20, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4563: Hurricane Sally |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Clarke County
Clarke County had 8,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,247 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Jackson itself the ACS puts it at 18.4%.
Public schools in Jackson
4 public schools with 1,348 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson High School | 9-12 | 420 | 15.6 |
| Joe M Gillmore Elementary School | PK-2 | 367 | 16.7 |
| Jackson Intermediate School | 3-5 | 281 | 20.1 |
| Jackson Middle School | 6-8 | 280 | 20.0 |
Towns near Jackson
- Thomasville, AL27.9 mi · 3,649 people · home $116,000
Jackson questions
Is Jackson, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jackson scores better for retirees than 67% of Alabama towns and quieter than 63%. 23.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Jackson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jackson is valued at $130,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,948, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $647 a month.
What is the weather like in Jackson?
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 36.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Jackson get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 24, 1984. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)