The Town FilesJackson, Michigan
City in Jackson County · population 31,309 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,200
- Household income
- $44,558
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 35.3
Jackson is a city of 31,309 people in Jackson County, Michigan. The median home is worth $103,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 97% of Michigan towns, hipper than 97% of Michigan towns.
How Jackson ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jackson is worth $103,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $44,558, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $898 a month. 54.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jackson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $898 | $955 |
| Median household income | $44,558 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Jackson
| People | Jackson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Jackson
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 32.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 15, 1982 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 1, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 9, 2004.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 55,945 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,139 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Jackson itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Public schools in Jackson
37 public schools with 10,842 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson High School | 9-12 | 1,027 | 20.1 |
| Northwest High School | 9-12 | 954 | 19.9 |
| Northwest Early Elementary School | K-2 | 849 | 18.5 |
| Northwest Kidder Middle School | 6-8 | 779 | 15.3 |
| Middle School at Parkside | 6-8 | 759 | 15.2 |
| Northwest Elementary School | 3-5 | 757 | 16.8 |
| Paragon Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 604 | 17.3 |
| Northeast Elementary School | K-5 | 502 | 16.2 |
| Cascades Elementary School | K-5 | 398 | 12.1 |
| East Jackson Secondary School | 7-12 | 373 | 21.9 |
| Townsend Elementary School | PK-6 | 360 | 16.4 |
| Hunt Elementary School | PK-5 | 358 | 14.9 |
Towns near Jackson
- Summit, MI3.3 mi · 22,920 people · home $197,400
- Vandercook Lake, MI3.7 mi · 4,579 people · home $136,600
- Blackman, MI3.8 mi · 25,642 people · home $169,000
- Michigan Center, MI4.3 mi · 4,609 people · home $167,100
- Leoni, MI5.7 mi · 13,847 people · home $196,200
- Napoleon, MI7.3 mi · 6,789 people · home $229,000
- Spring Arbor, MI7.3 mi · 8,530 people · home $217,700
- Sandstone, MI7.8 mi · 3,927 people · home $230,600
Jackson questions
Is Jackson, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jackson scores better for retirees than 1% of Michigan towns and quieter than 1%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Jackson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jackson is valued at $103,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,558, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $898 a month.
What is the weather like in Jackson?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38.8 inches of snow.
Does Jackson get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 15, 1982. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)