Jackson County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jackson County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 20,971. It is the 50th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jackson County is 42.6 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jackson County is $65,508. This is 13% lower than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 17% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.6%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 61% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $186,900. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $247,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Jackson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Jackson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.6%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

16.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 32.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.4%.