JacksonTN · Garryharvey / Public domainBird's eye view of Jackson, Tennessee 1870 · The original uploader was DoxTxob at English Wikipedia. / Public domainUnionDorm · Matt Snyder / CC BY 2.0EAST ELEVATION, FROM SOUTHEAST, CLOSER VIEW. ALSO SHOWS ONE-STORY ADDITION ON THE SOUTH END - Union Station, North Royal Street, Jackson, Madison County, TN HABS TENN,57-JACSO,1-5 · Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Jackson is a mid-sized city of 67,993 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $48,058
and a 9.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Jackson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Jackson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Jackson city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 87.3
Jackson's overall cost of living index is 87.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Jackson costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Jackson, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$169,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,007
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
51.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,058
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Jackson's violent crime rate is 950.4 per 100,000 residents
— 150% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
950.4 /100k
Property Crime
3160.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Jackson is served primarily by Madison County.
Metric
Jackson, TN
National Avg
School District
Madison County
—
Elementary Schools
12
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Jackson sees average highs of 48.5°F in January
and 90.6°F in July,
with 56.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.7 inches of snow per year.
Jackson's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Jackson roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $169,300 and median rent is $1,007/month.
Jackson's violent crime rate is 950.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3160.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Jackson are operated by Madison County.
The district has 12 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools.
26.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Jackson, TN has a population of 67,993, a median household income of $48,058, and an unemployment rate of 9.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Jackson averages 48.5°F in January and 90.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.9 inches
with about 2.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Jackson, TN is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 38305, 38301.
The population of Jackson, Tennessee is 67,993 with a median age of 34.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Jackson: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $169,300, median household income $48,058, crime index 210 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Jackson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
