Carbondale
RANK #556 / 996 NAT · #27 / 28 IL · POP 53,176
1YR FORECAST: +2.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| 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 scores 44/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#556). Median household income is $44,847 and job growth is running at +2.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Jackson County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $123,400, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $757/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
It's a mixed picture in Jackson County. The population is declining (-0.9% YoY), but employers are actually hiring — job growth is at +2.4%. Home values moved +11.5% in the last year. That tension between shrinking population and expanding employment often signals a county in transition.
In significant numbers — 7.76% of Jackson County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.
Extremely. Home values surged +11.5% over the past 12 months in Jackson County, far outpacing the national average. With a median home value of $123,400, buyers face a fast-moving market — though the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 suggests locals can still stretch to buy.