Jackson County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jackson County is located in Missouri with a total population of 717,021. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jackson County is 36.9 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jackson County is $67,178. This is 3% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is 10% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $213,300. Housing costs are 1% lower than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 58.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jackson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (22.4% vs 11.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (11.1% vs 5.1%).

Education

33.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Jackson County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.7%.