1st Advantage MortgageThe median Jackson County household earns $66,201, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Household income in Jackson County
- Housing costs in Jackson County
- Jackson County and the counties next door
- Jackson County towns compared
- Jackson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Jackson County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Jackson County median
- Four steps for Jackson County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Jackson County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Jackson County
Jackson County is home to about 145,249 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 5th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Packed into 723 square miles, that is close to 201 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Pascagoula is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 21,710 people (15% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Jackson County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Jackson County | Difference from Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | -2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.1% | +3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | +0.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Jackson County
Jackson County households have a median income of $66,201 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 9th of 82 in Mississippi.
| Household income | Jackson County | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | -4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | -0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.6% | +4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.1% | +1.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Jackson County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. 13.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). None of these numbers decides a Jackson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Jackson County
A typical Jackson County rental runs $1,101 a month including utilities, which is 15% above Mississippi. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. With a median value of $193,100, a typical Jackson County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 73% of Jackson County households own their home and 27% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1984.
| Home costs | Jackson County | Mississippi | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,101/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $193,100 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.5% | 14.4% | 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. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Jackson County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Harrison County at 27 miles out to Greene County at 52. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Jackson County; Hancock County is highest at $67,708 and Greene County lowest at $54,276. The list crosses into Alabama, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | - | $66,201 | $1,101/mo | 73% |
| Harrison County, MS | 27 mi | $59,479 | $1,115/mo | 62% |
| George County, MS | 28 mi | $59,758 | $844/mo | 82% |
| Mobile County, AL | 30 mi | $58,880 | $1,052/mo | 66% |
| Stone County, MS | 37 mi | $61,413 | $936/mo | 81% |
| Hancock County, MS | 51 mi | $67,708 | $977/mo | 79% |
| Greene County, MS | 52 mi | $54,276 | $802/mo | 82% |
Jackson County towns compared
14 Census places fall mainly inside Jackson County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 113,735 residents, leaving about 22% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $40,109 in Escatawpa to $133,216 in Hurley. Rent is cheapest in Pascagoula ($894) and steepest in Gulf Hills ($1,401). This guide covers each of the 14 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pascagoula | city | 21,710 | $52,222 | $894 | 8 mi |
| Gautier | city | 19,046 | $61,926 | $1,040 | 4 mi |
| Ocean Springs | city | 18,646 | $79,712 | $1,358 | 10 mi |
| Moss Point | city | 11,957 | $44,296 | $1,075 | 6 mi |
| Gulf Hills | CDP | 8,451 | $72,839 | $1,401 | 11 mi |
| St. Martin | CDP | 8,139 | $55,000 | $1,231 | 14 mi |
| Latimer | CDP | 6,756 | $70,237 | $1,122 | 13 mi |
| Gulf Park Estates | CDP | 6,264 | $65,556 | $1,320 | 10 mi |
| Vancleave | CDP | 5,078 | $70,313 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Escatawpa | CDP | 3,494 | $40,109 | $1,184 | 5 mi |
| Hurley | CDP | 1,305 | $133,216 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Wade | CDP | 1,183 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Helena | CDP | 975 | $101,750 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Big Point | CDP | 731 | $118,420 | n/a | 13 mi |
Jackson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. 11.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Jackson County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.7% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.0% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.5% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.7% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Reading the Jackson County data as a borrower
What the Jackson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Budget math at the Jackson County median
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: $5,517
- Housing at the median rent of $1,101 uses 20%
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $830 left for all other debt payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,382 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Jackson County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Four steps for Jackson County borrowers
Quick steps for Jackson County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Mississippi.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Jackson County residents
The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance is the place to verify any lender's Mississippi license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Mississippi guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jackson County a high-income county?
Its $66,201 median ranks 9th of 82 Mississippi counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Jackson County?
$1,101 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Does this page cover Pascagoula?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in Jackson County, such as Gautier, Ocean Springs, Moss Point.
Will a Jackson County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Mississippi as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Jackson County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Mississippi it is the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance.