Jackson County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Jackson County, Tennessee has a population of 12,029, the 85th most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $47,951 and the median home value is $155,500. The poverty rate is 20.3%.

Jackson County Quick Facts

Population 12,029

Median Household Income $47,95190% MOE ±$8,012

Median Home Value $155,50090% MOE ±$16,677

Poverty Rate 20.3%90% MOE ±4.1 pts

Unemployment Rate 7.6%90% MOE ±2.2 pts

Median Age 46.9 years90% MOE ±1.2 years

Homeownership Rate 81.1%90% MOE ±3.8 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 15.0%90% MOE ±2.8 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 84.3%

Cities/Places 2

Population 12,029 85th of 95

Median Income $47,951 31% lower than state

Poverty Rate 20.3%

Unemployment 7.6%

How Jackson County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	11,682	12,029	+3.0%
Median household income	$43,330	$47,951	No clear change (+10.7%)
Median home value¹	$155,192	$155,500	No clear change (+0.2%)
Median gross rent	$674	$758	No clear change (+12.4%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Jackson

$47,951

$69,595

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Jackson

$155,500

$286,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 26.9%

$25K-$50K 24.6%

$50K-$100K 23.9%

$100K+ 24.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

7.4%

$10K-$15K

7.2%

$15K-$20K

6.6%

$20K-$25K

5.6%

$25K-$30K

6.3%

$30K-$35K

3.8%

$35K-$40K

6.0%

$40K-$45K

5.8%

$45K-$50K

2.6%

$50K-$60K

6.0%

$60K-$75K

7.6%

$75K-$100K

10.2%

$100K-$125K

8.5%

$125K-$150K

8.3%

$150K-$200K

4.8%

$200K+

3.1%

Employment

7.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

53.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.1%

Renter 18.9%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $758/mo 19.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.3%

18-34

18.5%

35-54

23.9%

55-74

30.7%

75+

8.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Jackson County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Dodson Branch	1,425	$74,375	26.1%	$171,700
Gainesboro	1,064	$51,923	26.9%	$170,600

Explore Tennessee 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 Tennessee with a total population of 12,029. It is the 85th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jackson County is 46.9 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jackson County is $47,951. This is 31% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.3%. This is 47% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. 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 7.6%. This is 63% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $155,500. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 81.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Jackson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.8%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 15.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

15.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.3%.

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 Tennessee 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, Tennessee?

Jackson County has a population of 12,029, making it the 85th most populous county in Tennessee.

What is the median income in Jackson County?

The median household income in Jackson County is $47,951 with a poverty rate of 20.3%.

How many cities are in Jackson County, Tennessee?

Jackson County contains 2 Census-designated places.