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COUNTY

Jackson County

Kentucky · 13,325 residents (2025 est.) · 345.227 sq mi
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The short version

Jackson County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,000. Population has declined 3% since 2000. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $111,500. Households here earn about 37% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,086
−3%since 2000
from 13,495 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
38 / sq mi
−2%since 2009
from 39 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.8
+17%since 2000
from 34.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:13,325 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K12K13K13K14K1990201020202024Jackson County
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.1%(797)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(827)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.9%(901)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.9%(1,037)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.4%(450)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.2%(1,471)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.7%(1,656)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.5%(1,763)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.8%(1,806)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.6%(1,515)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.8%(633)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(230)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,000
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,177 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,925
+114%since 2000
from $10,711 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.8%
+11.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.5%
−10.7 ptssince 2000
from 30.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.438
−11%since 2010
from 0.493 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade25.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information8.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services2.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$111,500
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$665
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $301 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
22.6% rent
Vacancy rate
14.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.3%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.2%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 41.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+17%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
55
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Jackson County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.7%(13,322)
Black0.1%(7)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(72)
Asian0%(2)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.2%(12,587)
Black0.2%(21)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(142)
Asian0%(6)
Other2.5%(330)
Diversity Score
9
+139%since 2009
from 4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
14
−58%since 2020
from 34 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.9%(124)
Asian origin
Chinese0%(6)
Ancestry
American21.2%(2,774)
English15.9%(2,082)
German7.6%(991)
Irish6.6%(860)
Italian1.4%(178)
Scottish1.1%(144)
British0.9%(124)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(71)
Norwegian0.3%(45)
Welsh0.3%(36)
Russian0.2%(28)
Swiss0.2%(24)
+ 8 more ancestry groups with data
French0.1%(16)
Austrian0.1%(14)
Polish0.1%(14)
Dutch0.1%(9)
Swedish0%(1)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.8%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
75.1%
+22.2 ptssince 2000
from 52.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
37.7 min
+45%since 2000
from 25.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.1%
+8.3 ptssince 2009
from 72.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.8%
−12.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.9%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−9.5 ptssince 2011
from 13.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
46.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 47.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.8%
−27.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
51.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2012
from 27.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−74.1 ptssince 2013
from 79.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.1%
+25.1 ptssince 2017
from 58.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 98.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 1.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married22.2%(1,119)
Married60.3%(3,038)
Widowed4.8%(240)
Divorced12.7%(637)
Women 15+
Never married21.3%(1,179)
Married51.5%(2,844)
Widowed13%(721)
Divorced14.2%(783)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Jackson County to nearby counties

JACKSON COUNTY VS
Rockcastle County
Income$48,862+22%
Home value$123,600+11%
Population16,148+21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JACKSON COUNTY VS
Owsley County
Income$22,188−45%
Home value$80,100−28%
Population3,932−70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JACKSON COUNTY VS
Estill County
Income$46,051+15%
Home value$119,500+7%
Population13,962+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JACKSON COUNTY VS
Laurel County
Income$57,771+44%
Home value$159,500+43%
Population63,746+378%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Jackson County, Kentucky?

Jackson County, Kentucky has about 13,086 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Jackson County, Kentucky?

The typical household in Jackson County, Kentucky earns about $40,000 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Jackson County, Kentucky expensive?

In Jackson County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $111,500, and the typical rent is about $665 a month.

How educated are people in Jackson County, Kentucky?

About 8.8% of adults age 25 and over in Jackson County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Jackson County, Kentucky?

About 19.5% of people in Jackson County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Jackson County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Jackson County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,131 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9603.01Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9601.01Census Tract 9601.02Census Tract 9603.02
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 40447ZIP 40402ZIP 40486ZIP 40481ZIP 40434
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →