The Town FilesJackson, Mississippi
City in Hinds County · population 153,701 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $111,700
- Household income
- $42,071
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 86
- Median age
- 34.5
Jackson is a city of 153,701 people in Hinds County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $111,700, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Mississippi towns, better transit than 95% of Mississippi towns, more walkable than 94% of Mississippi towns.
How Jackson ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jackson is worth $111,700, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $42,071, which is more affordable than 61% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $1,055 a month. 48.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jackson | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,700 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $1,055 | $820 |
| Median household income | $42,071 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 48.6% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Jackson
| People | Jackson | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.9% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in Jackson
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 37.5°F. About 51.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 83 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 32 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
86 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 21 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on March 3, 1966 about 0.2 miles from the town center and killed 57. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 63 deaths and 669 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 139 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 31, 1996.
Severe weather in Hinds County since 1996
Hinds County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 10, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4790: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 30, 2022 | Other | EM-3582: Water Crisis |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Hinds County
Hinds County had 109,172 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,413 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Jackson itself the ACS puts it at 9.3%.
Public schools in Jackson
60 public schools with 20,640 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MURRAH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,279 | 19.4 |
| CALLAWAY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 955 | 16.2 |
| FOREST HILL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 942 | 15.0 |
| JIM HILL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 876 | 13.1 |
| LANIER HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 863 | 12.0 |
| PROVINE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 732 | 13.6 |
| WINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 590 | 14.4 |
| CARDOZO MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 573 | 11.5 |
| Joel E Smilow Collegiate (charter) | K-4 | 569 | 19.0 |
| JOEL E. SMILOW PREP (charter) | 5-8 | 564 | 17.1 |
| REIMAGINE PREP (charter) | 5-8 | 525 | 16.4 |
| BLACKBURN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 495 | 10.1 |
Towns near Jackson
- Richland, MS6.7 mi · 7,137 people · home $125,800
- Pearl, MS7.7 mi · 27,115 people · home $182,500
- Clinton, MS8.0 mi · 28,100 people · home $225,800
- Ridgeland, MS8.0 mi · 24,340 people · home $275,200
- Flowood, MS8.3 mi · 10,202 people · home $342,200
- Byram, MS9.6 mi · 12,666 people · home $206,600
- Madison, MS11.9 mi · 27,747 people · home $352,900
- Florence, MS12.3 mi · 4,572 people · home $230,800
Jackson questions
Is Jackson, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jackson scores better for retirees than 9% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 4%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Jackson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jackson is valued at $111,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,071, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,055 a month.
What is the weather like in Jackson?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 37.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Jackson get tornadoes?
86 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on March 3, 1966. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)