The Town FilesJackson, Missouri
City in Cape Girardeau County · population 15,481 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $240,000
- Household income
- $77,105
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 37.1
Jackson is a city of 15,481 people in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. The median home is worth $240,000, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more upscale than 83% of Missouri towns, better for young professionals than 76% of Missouri towns, better for families than 70% of Missouri towns.
How Jackson ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jackson is worth $240,000, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $77,105, which is more affordable than 31% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $900 a month. 71.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jackson | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $240,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $900 | $855 |
| Median household income | $77,105 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Jackson
| People | Jackson | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 88.7% |
Weather in Jackson
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 23.7°F. About 50.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 16, 2025 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 23, 2012.
Severe weather in Cape Girardeau County since 1996
Cape Girardeau County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cape Girardeau County
Cape Girardeau County had 41,463 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,752 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Jackson itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Jackson
9 public schools with 5,708 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSON SR. HIGH | 9-12 | 1,848 | 17.4 |
| JACKSON MIDDLE | 5-6 | 852 | 21.3 |
| RUSSELL HAWKINS JR. HIGH | 7-8 | 841 | 15.0 |
| EAST ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 739 | 15.7 |
| SOUTH ELEM. | K-4 | 388 | 12.9 |
| ORCHARD DRIVE ELEM. | K-4 | 375 | 13.4 |
| WEST LANE ELEM. | K-4 | 374 | 12.5 |
| NORTH ELEM. | K-4 | 248 | 13.8 |
| GORDONVILLE ATTENDANCE CTR | K-2 | 43 | 14.3 |
Towns near Jackson
- Cape Girardeau, MO7.2 mi · 39,540 people · home $196,300
- Scott City, MO12.5 mi · 4,346 people · home $147,500
- Chaffee, MO13.7 mi · 3,057 people · home $117,400
- Anna, IL23.5 mi · 4,303 people · home $134,300
- Perryville, MO26.9 mi · 8,555 people · home $179,700
Jackson questions
Is Jackson, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jackson scores better for retirees than 67% of Missouri towns and quieter than 34%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Jackson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jackson is valued at $240,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,105, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $900 a month.
What is the weather like in Jackson?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 23.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 7.5 inches of snow.
Does Jackson get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 16, 2025. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)