1st Advantage MortgageIn Jackson County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $68,110 a year and the typical rent is $787. 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
- Who lives in Jackson County
- Work, industries and travel time in Jackson County
- What Jackson County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Jackson County
- Counties near Jackson County
- Towns and communities in Jackson County
- What a median Jackson County budget can carry
- Who lives in Jackson County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Jackson County
- Lender oversight for Jackson County
- Steps before you apply in Jackson County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Jackson County
With an estimated 20,981 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Jackson County ranks 51st of 72 in Wisconsin for population. It covers 988 square miles of land, or about 21 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Jackson County is not part of any metropolitan area. Black River Falls is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 3,546 people (17% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Jackson County
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 9% locally and 2% for Wisconsin. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Jackson County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.8% | -3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.8% | -4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.5% | +6.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +1.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Jackson County households earn
At $68,110, the typical Jackson County household income is 4% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 48th among Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Jackson County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.0% | +3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.7% | -4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -4.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Jackson County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.4%, 2 points higher than the state's 10.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.428 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Jackson County
Renters in Jackson County pay a median of $787 a month, 28% below the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 39% of renter households here. With a median value of $196,100, a typical Jackson County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 80% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1979.
| Home costs | Jackson County | Wisconsin | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $787/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $196,100 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.0% | 3.1% | n/a |
Because most Jackson County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Counties near Jackson County
Monroe County is closest, 28 miles from center to center; the sixth, Wood County, is 39 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Jackson County; Trempealeau County is highest at $76,313 and Clark County lowest at $67,400.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | - | $68,110 | $787/mo | 80% |
| Monroe County, WI | 28 mi | $69,467 | $914/mo | 73% |
| Trempealeau County, WI | 28 mi | $76,313 | $949/mo | 74% |
| Clark County, WI | 30 mi | $67,400 | $823/mo | 79% |
| La Crosse County, WI | 33 mi | $73,013 | $1,059/mo | 62% |
| Eau Claire County, WI | 37 mi | $74,546 | $1,064/mo | 61% |
| Wood County, WI | 39 mi | $67,989 | $856/mo | 73% |
Towns and communities in Jackson County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 33% of Jackson County residents live in one of the 10. Incomes vary by place: $68,250 at the median in Alma Center, $48,750 in Melrose. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River Falls | city | 3,546 | $66,632 | $543 | 3 mi |
| Alma Center | village | 713 | $68,250 | $725 | 10 mi |
| Melrose | village | 562 | $48,750 | $744 | 17 mi |
| Merrillan | village | 527 | $52,273 | $775 | 9 mi |
| Hixton | village | 422 | $76,563 | $570 | 11 mi |
| Mission | CDP | 349 | $46,875 | $738 | 2 mi |
| Taylor | village | 328 | $59,531 | $879 | 16 mi |
| Hatfield | CDP | 190 | $60,417 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Sand Pillow | CDP | 176 | $35,625 | $429 | 2 mi |
| Millston | CDP | 114 | $51,250 | n/a | 12 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
What a median Jackson County budget can carry
Here is the Jackson County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,676 a month: gross income for a household at the Jackson County median
- 14% goes to median rent ($787)
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,200 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,554 total minus rent leaves $1,767
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Jackson County's.
Who lives in Jackson County, in numbers
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Jackson County | Wisconsin | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.9% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Before borrowing in Jackson County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Jackson County borrowers.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Jackson County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Jackson County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Lender oversight for Jackson County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Jackson County, check the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Wisconsin state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Jackson County
Quick steps for Jackson County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Jackson County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Jackson County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Jackson County?
$68,110 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 48th of 72 in the state.
How much is rent in Jackson County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $787 a month; 39% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Jackson County?
By population: Black River Falls, Alma Center, Melrose, Merrillan, Hixton. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Jackson County or elsewhere in Wisconsin, the same rules apply.
Is there a Jackson County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Wisconsin it is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.