Population 53,064 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jackson County
Household size in Jackson County
| Period | Jackson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.20 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Jackson County are small: just 2.20 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.32, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few Illinois counties have smaller households: only eight of 102.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Jackson County
| Period | Jackson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.6 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.9 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.3 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.6 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Jackson County are younger than 38.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in Illinois overall, where the median age is 40.2. The median age has climbed from 34.6 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only five of Illinois' 102 counties are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Jackson County
| Period | Jackson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Jackson County (10.5%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Illinois.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Jackson County
Renters in Jackson County
| Period | Jackson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.6% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 47.1% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 50.0% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Jackson County rent: 50.0% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. The renter share is up 4.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Jackson County has the highest share of renters of any Illinois county.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Jackson County
| Period | Jackson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.7% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.4% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Jackson County: 16.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Jackson County has a higher vacancy rate than the great majority of Illinois counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Jackson County
| Period | Jackson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Jackson County was built around 1976, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in Illinois overall, where the median home dates to 1970. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Jackson County
| Period | Jackson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $609 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $701 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $691 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $815 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$206 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Jackson County costs $815 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $206 a month since 2006–10, up 34%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.2% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Jackson County
Bachelor's degrees in Jackson County
| Period | Jackson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.4% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.1% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.0% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Jackson County (37.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 0.5 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Few Illinois counties have a higher share of college graduates: only eight of 102.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Jackson County
| Period | Jackson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.8% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.3% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.0% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.8% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Jackson County is above the national rate: 92.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Jackson County
| Period | Jackson County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Jackson County: 6.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Jackson County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 2.20 | 38.6 | 10.5% | 50.0% | 16.0% | 1976 | $815 | 37.0% | 92.8% | 6.8% |
| Williamson County | 2.30 | 42.9 | 12.6% | 29.3% | 10.0% | 1982 | $922 | 26.5% | 93.0% | 5.3% |
| Perry County | 2.51 | 42.0 | 9.0% | 23.5% | 10.2% | 1977 | $913 | 20.6% | 86.5% | 4.9% |
| Saline County | 2.30 | 45.3 | 13.0% | 27.5% | 13.4% | 1971 | $842 | 21.2% | 90.1% | 6.8% |
| Gallatin County | 2.36 | 46.8 | 13.4% | 22.6% | 14.8% | 1966 | $663 | 13.7% | 87.0% | 8.0% |
| St. Francois County | 2.51 | 39.6 | 12.3% | 31.8% | 13.2% | 1981 | $788 | 17.7% | 87.3% | 4.2% |
| Union County | 2.41 | 44.2 | 9.0% | 29.8% | 11.6% | 1975 | $760 | 13.2% | 91.2% | 2.8% |
| Henderson County | 2.42 | 42.1 | 13.0% | 35.1% | 10.2% | 1975 | $829 | 20.2% | 89.5% | 2.6% |
| Daviess County | 2.49 | 39.1 | 13.1% | 31.9% | 8.0% | 1978 | $937 | 26.0% | 91.7% | 4.9% |
| Dent County | 2.58 | 44.5 | 10.8% | 24.1% | 17.1% | 1980 | $710 | 16.7% | 83.6% | 4.3% |
| Hancock County | 2.52 | 41.4 | 14.5% | 22.8% | 6.9% | 1983 | $737 | 17.3% | 87.5% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Somerset County, ME · Elko County, NV · Franklin County, KY · Franklin County, NY · Franklin County, VA · Franklin County, VT · Garfield County, CO · Hall County, NE · Sandusky County, OH · Edgecombe County, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Jackson County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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