Jackson, MI
Census place 2641420 · pop 31,058
Birthplace of the Republican Party, founded at an 1854 'Under the Oaks' meeting.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
22.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
21.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
45.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$44,558 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-4.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
24.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
35.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.2% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
16.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.70% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
471 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2354 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
54.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.46 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
10.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
92.5% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
74/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,143/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$103,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
Not measured for Jackson: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Jackson, MI a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Jackson scores 36/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is poor mental health. Michigan overall ranks #42 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Jackson, MI?
- Jackson reports 471 violent crimes per 100k and 2354 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Jackson, MI expensive to live in?
- Jackson has a median home value of $103,200 and typical rent around $1,143/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Jackson, MI?
- Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (22.5%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Jackson, MI best at?
- Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($103,200) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Birthplace of the Republican Party, founded at an 1854 'Under the Oaks' meeting.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.