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Jackson County, GA

RANK #841 / 996  ·  POP 77,033  ·  GA

PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.9%

Jackson County is shedding jobs at a pace that outstrips most U.S. counties.

[01] Why Jackson County?

Jackson County, Georgia, stands out for its blend of small-town character and accessibility to larger urban centers. Jefferson, the county seat, is notable for its historic courthouse and the Crawford W. Long Museum, honoring the physician who first used ether as an anesthetic. Located in northeast Georgia, the county is about an hour's drive from Atlanta, with commute options including a local transit service that also connects to Athens-Clarke County. The community offers a generally conservative, family-friendly atmosphere with a focus on local sports and outdoor activities like hiking and fishing in areas such as Hurricane Shoals Park.

Life in Jackson County appeals to families and those seeking a quieter lifestyle, often commuting to nearby cities for work. The public school systems, including Jackson County Schools, Jefferson City Schools, and Commerce City Schools, are generally well-regarded. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in infrastructure, industrial and logistics operations, and educational institutions. The county has seen a rise in population and job opportunities, with a low unemployment rate.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.5x

Below national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+1.5%

Below national median

Home Prices
+0.3%

Well below national median

Climate & Terrain
-1.2

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
11x

Strong rental yield

Housing is fairly valued at 4.5x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Jackson County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
77,033
+4.33% YoY
Median Household Income
$82,056
Median Home Value
$280,600
+0.27% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,007
Average Annual Pay
$50,463
+5.1% YoY
Employment
45,812
-3.4% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2924
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
6.54%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$442,800
Days on Market
97
Slower market
Months of Supply
5.5
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.3%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
22.0%
Listings w/ Price Drops
27.6%
Building Permits (2024)
2,114
Single-Family Permits
2,070

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$1,299M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Jeffrey Solar Farm
NextEra Energy Resources
$500M Proposed
Jackson 85 North Business Park
Trammell Crow Co. & CBRE Investment Management
$200M Under Construction
New School Construction (3 schools)
Jackson County School System
$200M Planned
Northern Data: Maysville Campus
Northern Data
$180M Planned
GreenBox Systems LLC Distribution Facility (Butts County, near Jackson)
GreenBox Systems LLC
$144M Planned
County Infrastructure Projects (Elections Center, EMS HQ, Fleet Maintenance, Airport Terminal, Solid Waste Transfer Station Expansion)
Jackson County Government
$75M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +1.5% 26 percentile
Population Growth +4.3% 99 percentile
Income Growth +11.7% 94 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.8% 79 percentile
Home Price Change +0.3% 34 percentile
Rent Growth +1.9% 32 percentile
Price/Rent 11x 78 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jackson County, GA a good place to move to?

Jackson County has a Boom Town Index score of 16/100, ranking #841 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -3.4% and a median household income of $82,056, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Jackson County affordable?

The median home value in Jackson County is $280,600 with median rent at $1,007/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2924, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Jackson County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +4.3% year-over-year. Job growth: -3.4%. Home values changed +0.3% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Jackson County?

Yes — 6.54% of Jackson County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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