The Town FilesJackson, California
City in Amador County · population 5,019 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $442,700
- Household income
- $70,239
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 50.2
Jackson is a city of 5,019 people in Amador County, California. The median home is worth $442,700, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks quieter than 79% of California towns, better for cycling than 78% of California towns.
How Jackson ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jackson is worth $442,700, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $70,239, which is more affordable than 52% of California towns. Median rent is $1,429 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jackson | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $442,700 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,429 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $70,239 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Jackson
| People | Jackson | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 14.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.3% | 93.3% |
Weather in Jackson
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 39.2°F. About 32.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 75 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 15 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950.
Severe weather in Amador County since 1996
Amador County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 1, 2021 | Fire | EM-3571: Caldor Fire |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Amador County
Amador County had 12,492 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,581 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Jackson itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Jackson
6 public schools with 1,658 students, about 20.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argonaut High | 9-12 | 594 | 19.8 |
| Jackson Elementary | K-6 | 428 | 21.4 |
| Jackson Junior High | 6-8 | 351 | 17.6 |
| Pine Grove Elementary STEM Magnet | K-6 | 273 | 24.8 |
| Amador County Special Education | K-12 | 12 | 12.0 |
| Amador County ROP | 12-12 | — | — |
Towns near Jackson
- Sutter Creek, CA3.4 mi · 2,646 people · home $543,800
- Pine Grove, CA7.3 mi · 2,891 people · home $412,900
- Ione, CA9.5 mi · 5,141 people · home $474,900
- Valley Springs, CA11.4 mi · 3,779 people · home $286,200
- San Andreas, CA12.0 mi · 2,994 people · home $419,700
- Buckhorn, CA15.0 mi · 2,597 people · home $360,800
- Rancho Calaveras, CA15.6 mi · 5,590 people · home $443,900
- Rancho Murieta, CA19.4 mi · 5,903 people · home $715,700
Jackson questions
Is Jackson, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jackson scores better for retirees than 65% of California towns and quieter than 79%. 38.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.2).
How much does a house cost in Jackson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jackson is valued at $442,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,239, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $1,429 a month.
What is the weather like in Jackson?
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 39.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Jackson get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Jackson in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)