Jackson County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jackson County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 11,882. It is the 85th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jackson County is 48.0 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jackson County is $41,475. This is 38% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 47% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.7%. This is 50% 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 7.7%. This is 63% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $135,200. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Jackson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.5%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 7.1%.

Education

13.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.6%.