RANK #510 / 1001 NAT · #28 / 36 MI · POP 160,060
1YR FORECAST: +1.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
Jackson County, Michigan, known as the "Crossroads of Michigan," offers a blend of urban and rural living, situated about 75 miles west of Detroit. The county seat, the city of Jackson, holds a notable place in history as a significant stop on the Underground Railroad and the birthplace of the Republican Party. Commuting to nearby cities like Ann Arbor or Lansing typically takes around 30-45 minutes, with Interstate 94 and US 127 providing key routes. The area boasts abundant outdoor recreation, including thousands of acres of protected forests, numerous lakes for fishing and kayaking, and extensive trails for hiking and biking. It also has one of the highest concentrations of golf courses per capita in the United States.
Life in Jackson County appeals to families and those seeking a more relaxed pace, with a lower cost of living compared to national averages. The public schools in Jackson County are generally rated above average. The local economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in infrastructure and the expansion of advanced manufacturing and energy sectors. This has led to job creation and a focus on workforce development, attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones.
Jackson County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +3.6% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.6x — home prices are high 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: 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Jackson County Solar Project
Geronimo Power
|
$180M | Under Construction |
|
Grass Lake Solar Project
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$164M | Proposed |
|
Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc. (MACI) Expansion
Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc. (MACI)
|
$82M | Under Construction |
|
Jackson County Energy & Operational Efficiency Project (Phase I & Addendum)
Jackson County & Veregy
|
$36M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Jackson County scores 49/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#510). Median household income is $66,073 and job growth is running at -0.9%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Jackson County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $193,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $985/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Jackson County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs -0.9%. Home values shifted +3.6% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.13% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Jackson County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.