Jackson MS
Mississippi · Pop. 146,631
Jackson, MS: median household income of $42,071, median rent of $1,055/mo, 9.3% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$42,071
per year
Median Rent
$1,055
per month
Median Home
$112k
home value
Unemployment
9.3%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
27.9%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
20 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Jackson, MS Reality Check"
In Jackson, the rent-to-income burden runs around 30% — acceptable by national standards. Median income sits at $42,071 and median rent is $1,055/month. A staggering 55% of renters here are housing-cost-burdened — spending 30% or more of their income just to keep a roof overhead. Median home value: $111,700 — that's 2.7× the median income. Employment picture: 9.28% unemployment — a softer job market. Poverty rate: 27.9% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 20 minutes — mercifully short. Jackson was founded in 1822 — that's 204 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 113.2 sq miles at 1,295 people/sq mile — sprawling. Elevation: 279 ft — modest elevation. RoastMyCity overall score: 58/100 — It Depends.