The Town FilesJackson, Tennessee
City in Madison County · population 68,205 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $217,800
- Household income
- $53,032
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 35.5
Jackson is a city of 68,205 people in Madison County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $217,800, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better transit than 96% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 91% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Tennessee towns.
How Jackson ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jackson is worth $217,800, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $53,032, which is more affordable than 37% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,145 a month. 51.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jackson | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,800 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,145 | $863 |
| Median household income | $53,032 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.2% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Jackson
| People | Jackson | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 88.2% |
Weather in Jackson
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 56.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on February 5, 2008 about 1.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 20 deaths and 276 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on February 5, 2008.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 60,967 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,054 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Jackson itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Public schools in Jackson
25 public schools with 11,825 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Side High School | 9-12 | 925 | 13.6 |
| Northeast Middle School | 6-8 | 794 | 15.6 |
| South Side High School | 9-12 | 773 | 11.7 |
| Thelma Barker Elementary | K-5 | 715 | 14.6 |
| Community Montessori School | PK-8 | 657 | 15.3 |
| Arlington Elementary School | PK-5 | 632 | 15.0 |
| Pope School | K-6 | 613 | 15.0 |
| Liberty Technology Magnet High School | 9-12 | 584 | 14.6 |
| Rose Hill School | PK-8 | 519 | 12.7 |
| East Elementary School | PK-5 | 491 | 14.4 |
| Andrew Jackson Elementary School | PK-5 | 481 | 16.6 |
| Madison Academic Magnet High School | 9-12 | 477 | 17.7 |
Towns near Jackson
- Medina, TN11.3 mi · 5,126 people · home $287,200
- Humboldt, TN12.3 mi · 7,874 people · home $102,300
- Henderson, TN18.0 mi · 6,308 people · home $147,900
- Milan, TN18.1 mi · 8,171 people · home $144,100
- Trenton, TN22.6 mi · 4,240 people · home $126,000
- Brownsville, TN24.1 mi · 9,788 people · home $158,100
- Lexington, TN26.0 mi · 7,956 people · home $176,000
- Bolivar, TN29.0 mi · 5,205 people · home $150,200
Jackson questions
Is Jackson, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jackson scores better for retirees than 7% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 2%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Jackson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jackson is valued at $217,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,032, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,145 a month.
What is the weather like in Jackson?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.9 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does Jackson get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on February 5, 2008. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)