Jackson Metro Area, MS Local Data & Statistics

State: MS

Total population: 611,324 Household income: $61,644 Rent: $1,072

Overview

Total population

611,324

Rent

$1,072

Year built

1985

Household income

$61,644

Per capita income

$34,708

Poverty rate

17.7%

Unemployment rate

2.8%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

48.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Total population

611,324

Adults over 25

411,711

Total households

237,841

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$61,644

Per capita income

$34,708

Poverty rate

17.7%

Unemployment rate

2.8%

Rent over 30% of income

48.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,072

Year built

1985

Households that rent

32.5%

Households that own

67.5%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.8

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

45.5%

Black

47.7%

Asian

1.2%

Two or more races

3.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

3.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

96.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

92.4%

Commute time to work

25 mins

Work from home

7.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

30.9%

High school graduate or GED

24.3%

Some college or associate degree

12.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

32.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Jackson Metro Area, MS with: Mississippi United States

Jackson Metro Area

Total population611,324

Rent$1,072

Year built1985

Household income$61,644

Per capita income$34,708

Poverty rate17.7%

Unemployment rate2.8%

Mississippi State

Total population2,946,779

Rent$954

Year built1986

Household income$56,447

Per capita income$31,549

Poverty rate18.9%

Unemployment rate3.1%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	Metro AreaJackson Metro Area	StateMississippi	CountryUnited States
Total population	611,324	2,946,779	334,922,499
Rent	$1,072	$954	$1,413
Year built	1985	1986	1980
Household income	$61,644	$56,447	$80,734
Per capita income	$34,708	$31,549	$44,673
Poverty rate	17.7%	18.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.8%	3.1%	4%

View the complete comparison of Jackson Metro Area, Mississippi and United States →

Summary for Jackson Metro Area, MS

Jackson metro area is located in MS.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $1,072, while the typical household income is $61,644. Rent in this metro area is higher than Mississippi and lower than the U.S., and household income is higher than Mississippi and lower than the U.S.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 32.5% of households. About 48.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 17.7%, which is lower than the Mississippi rate but higher than the national rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 2.8%, which is lower than in both Mississippi and the national rate.

Jackson Metro Area, MS — Rent vs Household Income

Jackson Metro Area, MS — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Jackson Metro Area, MS (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,072 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Jackson Metro Area, MS

Annual Household Income: $61,644

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Jackson Metro Area, MS

Estimated Rate: 17.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Jackson Metro Area, MS

In Jackson Metro Area, MS, households that rent: 77,293 (32.5%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	77,293	32.5%
Owner-Occupied	160,548	67.5%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Jackson Metro Area, MS

In Jackson Metro Area, MS, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 37,254 (48.2%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	37,254	48.2%
Other renter households	40,039	51.8%
Total renter households	77,293	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Jackson Metro Area, MS

Less than High School: 127,422 people (30.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 100,212 people (24.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 51,631 people (12.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 132,446 people (32.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 411,711

📊 Unemployment Rate in Jackson Metro Area, MS

Estimated Rate: 2.8%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.