With 43,771 people, Jackson County is a county in North Carolina. The population is up 32% since 2000. 5% of people here were born outside the United States. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 23%. Renters pay $904 a month at the median. Households take in $55,815 at the median, 32% less than the US figure.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $55,815, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.1
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 68%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Jackson County
What changed most since 1990
Homes owned by their occupants75.6% → 60.8%(−14.9 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
White share87.4% → 78.4%(−9.0 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Population26,846 → 43,771(+63%)US over the same years: +35%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)22.1%(645)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)22.7%(661)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era37.4%(1,091)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4%(116)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.7%(21)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,916 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Jackson County, decade by decade
Jackson County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
26,846
$51,649
$152,884
19.7%
28.2
2000
33,121
$59,299
$169,596
25.5%
33.4
2010
40,271
$53,500
$234,775
27.0%
40.3
2020
43,109
$56,748
$250,771
28.4%
50.5
2024
43,771
$55,815
$284,700
31.1%
45.9
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Jackson County, North Carolina?
Jackson County, North Carolina has about 43,771 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Jackson County, North Carolina?
The typical household in Jackson County, North Carolina earns about $55,815 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Jackson County, North Carolina expensive?
In Jackson County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $284,700, and the typical rent is about $904 a month.
How educated are people in Jackson County, North Carolina?
About 31.1% of adults age 25 and over in Jackson County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Jackson County, North Carolina?
About 18.0% of people in Jackson County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Jackson County, North Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Jackson County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 16,925 residents, a change of about 63 percent over that period.
