1st Advantage MortgageThe median Jackson County household earns $62,799, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Oklahoma license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Jackson County
- Paychecks and income spread in Jackson County
- Employment and commuting in Jackson County
- What it costs to live in Jackson County
- Towns and communities in Jackson County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Jackson County
- Jackson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Jackson County
- Steps before you apply in Jackson County
- Licensing and complaints for Jackson County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Jackson County
Jackson County is home to about 24,678 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 36th most populous of 77 county-level areas in Oklahoma. Land area is 803 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 31 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jackson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 9 Census places inside Jackson County, Altus leads by population with about 18,646; 9 of the 9 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Jackson County
Jackson County households have a median income of $62,799 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 23rd of 77 in Oklahoma.
| Income band | Share in Jackson County | Difference from Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.5% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | 0.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Jackson County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. 16.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.433 here. A household earning below the $62,799 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Jackson County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 12% locally and 6% for Oklahoma. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.6% in Jackson County. About 81% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 6.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Jackson County | Gap to Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | +1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 12.0% | +5.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.7% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Jackson County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $842 in Jackson County versus $1,014 statewide. By the Census definition, 36% of Jackson County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $158,400, a typical Jackson County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 59%. The median home was built in 1973, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Jackson County | Oklahoma | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $842/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $158,400 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 59% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.3% | 8.2% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Jackson County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Jackson County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 20,827 people, so roughly 16% of residents live outside any named place. Olustee has the highest median household income on the list ($63,145) and Blair the lowest ($49,063), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altus | city | 18,646 | $55,295 | $854 | 7 mi |
| Blair | town | 585 | $49,063 | $772 | 14 mi |
| Olustee | town | 555 | $63,145 | $582 | 3 mi |
| Eldorado | town | 449 | $51,250 | $493 | 16 mi |
| East Duke | town | 313 | $67,917 | $1,045 | 10 mi |
| Martha | town | 134 | $64,375 | $625 | 9 mi |
| Headrick | town | 69 | $63,750 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Elmer | town | 59 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Friendship | town | 17 | $59,375 | n/a | 13 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Greer County at 25 miles out to Wilbarger County at 36. Hardeman County leads the group on income ($63,333), Harmon County trails ($43,333), and Jackson County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Texas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Jackson County resident follows Oklahoma rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | - | $62,799 | $842/mo | 59% |
| Greer County, OK | 25 mi | $59,406 | $681/mo | 78% |
| Harmon County, OK | 27 mi | $43,333 | $694/mo | 70% |
| Hardeman County, TX | 28 mi | $63,333 | $684/mo | 74% |
| Tillman County, OK | 31 mi | $48,939 | $733/mo | 73% |
| Kiowa County, OK | 33 mi | $44,962 | $780/mo | 70% |
| Wilbarger County, TX | 36 mi | $54,102 | $932/mo | 67% |
Room for a loan payment in Jackson County
Jackson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,233 before taxes
- Median rent: $842, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,042 a month
If your rent is above $842, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Jackson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
25% of Jackson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Jackson County | Oklahoma statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.8% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.4% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.0% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Jackson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 68.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.5% |
| 60+ min | 1.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Jackson County
Where the Jackson County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 13% of Jackson County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Steps before you apply in Jackson County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Jackson County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Jackson County
Jackson County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Oklahoma State Banking Department. Consumer lending in Oklahoma is also overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Oklahoma guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oklahoma guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jackson County a high-income county?
Its $62,799 median ranks 23rd of 77 Oklahoma counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Jackson County?
$842 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Which towns does the Jackson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Altus, Blair, Olustee, Eldorado, East Duke.
Is the fit check different in Jackson County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Jackson County?
Start with the Oklahoma State Banking Department, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.