Jackson County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jackson County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 43,089. It is the 59th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jackson County is 38.9 years. This is about average than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jackson County is $53,479. This is 23% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 32% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.3%. This is 47% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 32% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $253,900. Housing costs are 2% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.7x. 62.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jackson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.7%. The Black or African American population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

30.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%.