1st Advantage MortgageAbout 73% of Jackson County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $70,262. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Jackson County
- Employment and commuting in Jackson County
- Income in Jackson County compared with Indiana
- Rent, home values and ownership in Jackson County
- Jackson County next to its neighbors
- Jackson County towns compared
- What a median Jackson County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Jackson County
- More Jackson County figures
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Indiana
- More guides for Jackson County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Jackson County
Jackson County is home to about 46,660 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 31st most populous of 92 county-level areas in Indiana. It covers 510 square miles of land, or about 91 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Jackson County is not part of any metropolitan area. Seymour is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 22,371 people (48% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Jackson County
Manufacturing employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 16%. Manufacturing stands out: 30% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.6% in Jackson County. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. 5.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Jackson County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 29.9% | +11.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.4% | -7.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.4% | -3.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Jackson County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Jackson County compared with Indiana
Jackson County households have a median income of $70,262 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 41st of 92 in Indiana.
| Household income | Jackson County | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.9% | -0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.1% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -2.3 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.3% of Jackson County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.403 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Jackson County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Jackson County
A typical Jackson County rental runs $1,004 a month including utilities, which is 5% below Indiana. By the Census definition, 39% of Jackson County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $178,300, a typical Jackson County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 73%. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Jackson County | Indiana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,004/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $178,300 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.9% | 4.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Jackson County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Jackson County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (22 to 24 miles). Bartholomew County leads the group on income ($79,901), Scott County trails ($56,352), and Jackson County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | - | $70,262 | $1,004/mo | 73% |
| Bartholomew County, IN | 22 mi | $79,901 | $1,127/mo | 69% |
| Washington County, IN | 22 mi | $64,641 | $780/mo | 82% |
| Brown County, IN | 22 mi | $78,528 | $895/mo | 87% |
| Scott County, IN | 22 mi | $56,352 | $822/mo | 71% |
| Jennings County, IN | 23 mi | $69,322 | $988/mo | 79% |
| Lawrence County, IN | 24 mi | $66,468 | $845/mo | 81% |
Jackson County towns compared
6 Census places fall mainly inside Jackson County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 28,636 residents, leaving about 39% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Medora has the highest median household income on the list ($69,231) and Crothersville the lowest ($55,909), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Brownstown ($658) and steepest in Crothersville ($1,034). No Jackson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seymour | city | 22,371 | $64,426 | $1,011 | 9 mi |
| Brownstown | town | 3,040 | $62,756 | $658 | 2 mi |
| Crothersville | town | 1,720 | $55,909 | $1,034 | 14 mi |
| Medora | town | 817 | $69,231 | $1,018 | 9 mi |
| Vallonia | CDP | 411 | $82,902 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Freetown | CDP | 277 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Jackson County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Jackson County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Jackson County: $5,855
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,004)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,104 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,004, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Jackson County
What the Jackson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Jackson County borrower sees (free reports).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
More Jackson County figures
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 8.5%, against 7.4% for Indiana.
| Residents | Jackson County | Indiana | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.3% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Jackson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Before you sign
A short checklist for Jackson County borrowers:
- Price the Jackson County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Indiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Indiana
Jackson County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Indiana guide.
More guides for Jackson County
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Jackson County earn?
The median is $70,262; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Jackson County rent compare with Indiana?
$1,004 locally versus $1,062 for the state, 5% below.
What are the biggest places in Jackson County?
By population: Seymour, Brownstown, Crothersville, Medora, Vallonia. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Are Jackson County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Jackson County residents?
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Indiana; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.