RANK #132 / 1001 NAT · #8 / 28 IL · POP 53,064
1YR FORECAST: +2.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +23%
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.
Jackson County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +7.5% YoY, population +0.7%, wages -2.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.8x 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Jackson County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| 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 1001 counties.
Jackson County ranks #132 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 87/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +9.3% and a median household income of $48,763 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Jackson County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $137,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $782/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Jackson County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.7% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +9.3% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +7.5% over the past 12 months.
In significant numbers — 6.85% 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.
Home values climbed +7.5% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Jackson County is now valued at $137,300. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.