RANK #68 / 996 · POP 53,176 · IL
PROJECTED GROWTH: +3.1%
Jackson County, Illinois, distinguishes itself with Carbondale, home to Southern Illinois University (SIU), which lends a college-town atmosphere and cultural amenities typically found in larger cities. Located in southern Illinois, approximately 100 miles southeast of St. Louis, the county offers a blend of academic energy and natural beauty. The Shawnee National Forest covers a significant portion of the county, providing extensive outdoor recreation opportunities including hiking, fishing, and camping at locations like Giant City State Park, Lake Murphysboro State Park, and Kinkaid Lake. Commute options within the county include the Jackson County Mass Transit District (JAX), which operates fixed routes and rural services connecting towns like Carbondale and Murphysboro.
Life in Jackson County offers access to educational institutions, with 33 public schools serving K-12 students, including top-ranked Giant City Elementary School. The economy is influenced by SIU, healthcare, and retail, attracting a mix of students, faculty, and local families. Recent economic developments focus on infrastructure improvements, including broadband expansion and utility upgrades. The county is also seeing new industrial investments in sectors such as energy and manufacturing, contributing to job creation and economic growth.
Contracting economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.5x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Big Muddy Solar Project
Arevon Energy, Inc.
|
$200M | Under Construction |
|
Raider Wind Project
NextEra Energy
|
$150M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Jackson County has a Boom Town Index score of 93/100, ranking #68 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.4% and a median household income of $44,847, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Jackson County is $123,400 with median rent at $757/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3634, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.9% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.4%. Home values changed +11.5% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 7.76% of Jackson County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.