RANK #320 / 996 · POP 143,721 · MS
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.5%
Ocean Springs, a town known for its art community and walkable downtown, is a notable spot in Jackson County, Mississippi. Located at the southeastern tip of the state, Jackson County borders Alabama and is part of the Pascagoula Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is about a three-hour drive from New Orleans, LA. Its landscape includes sandy soil and pine forests, with abundant outdoor recreation opportunities along its coastline, including beaches, boat ramps, and numerous parks like Franklin Creek Park. The Pascagoula River, one of the last undisturbed free-flowing rivers in the United States, also runs through the county.
Life in Jackson County often involves a connection to its coastal environment and a community feel. The public school districts, including Jackson County School District, are highly rated. Commuting within the county is primarily by car, though public transit options exist in the broader Jackson metropolitan area. The economy is significantly influenced by advanced manufacturing, with shipbuilding being a major industry. The Port of Pascagoula serves as a key economic driver, handling millions of tons of cargo annually. The county has also seen growth in other sectors, with ongoing investments in infrastructure and community amenities.
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.6x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
AWS Data Center Campuses (Madison County, impacting region)
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$10,000M | Under Construction |
|
Soul City Solar Project (Hinds County, impacting region)
Apex Clean Energy
|
$396M | Proposed |
|
Delta Wind Farm (Tunica County, impacting region)
AES Clean Energy (for Amazon)
|
$350M | Operating |
|
PackEx USA Aluminum Bottling Facility
PackEx USA
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Pulse Industries Advanced Manufacturing Facility
Pulse Industries
|
$50M | Planned |
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 68/100, ranking #320 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.4% and a median household income of $60,045, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Jackson County is $161,700 with median rent at $1,001/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3713, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.4%. Home values changed -0.1% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.47% of Jackson County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.