Jackson County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Name: Jackson County, Illinois Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Jackson County, Illinois has a population of 53,064, the 27th most populous county in Illinois. The median household income is $48,763 and the median home value is $137,300. The poverty rate is 21.0%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Jackson County Quick Facts

Population 53,064

Median Household Income $48,763

Median Home Value $137,300

Poverty Rate 21.0%

Unemployment Rate 7.5%

Median Age 32.4 years

Homeownership Rate 50.0%

Affordability Ratio 2.8x

Bachelor's Degree+ 36.3%

High School Graduation 92.9%

Cities/Places 11

Population 53,064 27th of 102

Median Income $48,763 42% lower than state

Poverty Rate 21.0%

Unemployment 7.5%

How Jackson County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	52,706	53,064	+0.7%
Median household income	$45,572	$48,763	+7.0%
Median home value	$125,000	$137,300	+9.8%

Median Household Income

Jackson

$48,763

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Jackson

$137,300

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 28.0%

$25K-$50K 22.8%

$50K-$100K 26.5%

$100K+ 22.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

8.9%

$10K-$15K

6.5%

$15K-$20K

6.1%

$20K-$25K

6.6%

$25K-$30K

5.5%

$30K-$35K

4.2%

$35K-$40K

5.4%

$40K-$45K

4.0%

$45K-$50K

3.8%

$50K-$60K

6.8%

$60K-$75K

8.7%

$75K-$100K

11.0%

$100K-$125K

9.4%

$125K-$150K

4.1%

$150K-$200K

4.2%

$200K+

4.9%

Employment

7.5% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

56.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 50.0%

Renter 50.0%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.8x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $782/mo 19.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.8%

18-34

34.5%

35-54

19.5%

55-74

20.5%

75+

6.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Jackson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Murphysboro	6,735	$44,154	14.9%	$85,900
De Soto	1,654	$62,813	16.3%	$94,700
Harrison	830	$77,632	10.6%	$176,100
Elkville	751	$39,063	23.1%	$71,000
Makanda	612	$79,000	8.3%	$242,600
Ava	561	$55,368	7.5%	$90,500
Grand Tower	502	$46,875	30.1%	$39,000
Campbell Hill	328	$69,018	8.0%	$96,800
Vergennes	303	$54,583	7.9%	$97,500
Dowell	299	$55,714	19.5%	$50,800
Gorham	248	$55,938	18.1%	$26,100

Explore Illinois Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Jackson County is located in Illinois with a total population of 53,064. It is the 27th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jackson County is 32.4 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jackson County is $48,763. This is 42% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.0%. This is 78% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.5%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $137,300. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Jackson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 50.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% lower than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jackson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.3%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.

Education

36.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.9%. Notably, 16.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Jackson County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Illinois and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Jackson County, Illinois?

Jackson County has a population of 53,064, making it the 27th most populous county in Illinois.

What is the median income in Jackson County?

The median household income in Jackson County is $48,763 with a poverty rate of 21.0%.

How many cities are in Jackson County, Illinois?

Jackson County contains 11 Census-designated places.