RANK #892 / 1001 NAT · #13 / 15 MS · POP 145,249
1YR FORECAST: -0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +12%
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.
Jackson County is one of 75 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.4% matches the profile's typical +0.8%.
See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 9.1x — 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: 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.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Jackson County scores just 10/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #892 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -2.4% and median household income of $66,201 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Jackson County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $193,100 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $1,101/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Jackson County is attracting residents (population +0.6% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -2.4%. Housing values changed +0.4% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.72% 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.