City · Missouri
Jackson, Missouri
Jackson, city, in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Jackson had 16,033 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 15,481 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 15,659 (±61). GEOID 2935648.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,033
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 15,481 · ACS 2020-2024: 15,659 ±61
Median household income
$77,105
±$7,262 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$240,000
±$18,431 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$900
±$114 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is Jackson and what county is it in?
Jackson is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. It covers 10.7 square miles of land, 1,440 residents per square mile in 2020.
Jackson is in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Jackson, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 16,033 people lived in Jackson on July 1, 2025, up 3.5% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020 Census counted 15,481 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 15,659 (±61).
| Measure | Jackson | Cape Girardeau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,659 ±61 | 82,735 | +787 |
| Households | 6,173 ±287 | 32,454 | +648 |
| Average household size | 2.48 ±0.11 | 2.44 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,427 ±317 | 36,086 | no clear change |
Jackson's population since 2000
From 11,947 in 2000 to 16,033 in 2025: up 34.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Jackson as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Jackson?
The median resident of Jackson is 37.1 years old; 24.7% are under 18 and 17.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.0%. 1.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Jackson | Cape Girardeau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 ±2.1 | 37.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.7% ±2.4 pts | 21.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.2% ±2.0 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Male | 49.1% ±2.6 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.0% ±1.6 pts | 2.9% | +2.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.7% ±2.1 pts | 83.6% | −5.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±1.1 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±0.8 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±1.2 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.7% ±0.9 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.6% ±1.2 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.8% ±1.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 12.8% ±2.4 pts | 14.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.1% ±1.6 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.4% ±1.7 pts | 92.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.8% ±3.8 pts | 33.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.9% ±3.4 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.6% ±3.8 pts | 84.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3% ±0.8 pts | 2.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Jackson earn?
Half of Jackson's 6,173 households earn less than $77,105 a year (±$7,262), against $68,464 in Cape Girardeau County and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $79,376 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Jackson | Cape Girardeau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $77,105 ±$7,262 | $68,464 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $96,427 ±$7,549 | $89,147 | – |
| Per capita income | $38,230 ±$3,074 | $35,813 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.6% ±2.7 pts | 13.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.4% ±5.9 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.5% ±2.2 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.0% ±2.4 pts | 94.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.0% ±2.9 pts | 89.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Jackson?
Owners occupy 71.1% of Jackson's occupied homes and renters 28.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $240,000 by its owner (±$18,431). The median renter pays $900 a month including utilities, and 30.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Jackson | Cape Girardeau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $240,000 ±$18,431 | $220,700 | +$37,182 |
| Median gross rent | $900 ±$114 | $881 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.1% ±9.0 pts | 36.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,384 ±$89 | $1,408 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.1% ±4.3 pts | 66.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 28.9% ±4.3 pts | 33.2% | – |
| Housing units | 6,427 ±317 | 36,086 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 7.5% ±4.5 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.3% ±4.0 pts | 71.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.7% ±1.8 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 13.3% ±3.4 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.0% ±2.9 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.7% ±2.1 pts | 5.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Jackson building?
Builders took permits for 54 new housing units in Jackson in 2025 (54 in single-family houses), 3.4 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Missouri.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Jackson work and get to work?
78.9% of Jackson's workers drive alone and 12.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 1.8%.
| Measure | Jackson | Cape Girardeau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.9% ±3.3 pts | 64.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.8% ±1.0 pts | 2.3% | −5.5 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 78.9% ±4.0 pts | 80.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.8% ±2.5 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.4% ±3.8 pts | 9.0% | +9.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.2 min ±1.8 | 19.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Jackson?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Jackson, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $66,010 (Tract 8804.02) to $87,821 (Tract 8805.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8805.01Cape Girardeau County | 5,817 | $87,821 |
| Tract 8804.01Cape Girardeau County | 5,901 | $82,237 |
| Tract 8805.02Cape Girardeau County | 3,940 | $70,547 |
| Tract 8804.02Cape Girardeau County | 2,500 | $66,010 |
| Tract 8815Cape Girardeau County | 4,558 | $82,153 |
| Tract 8802Cape Girardeau County | 4,160 | $69,205 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Jackson) · Census block assignment files
How does Jackson compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Jackson is the 2,305th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 48th-most populous of 936 in Missouri.
Jackson ranks 98th of 416 places in Missouri with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 48th | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 126th | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 121st | 420 |
| Median household income | 98th | 416 |
| Per capita income | 91st | 420 |
| Median home value | 81st | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 180th | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 296th | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 77th | 404 |
| Median age | 259th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 167th | 418 |
| Work from home | 114th | 270 |
| Travel time to work | 290th | 420 |
Jackson's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare Jackson with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Jackson?
7 of the 57 figures for Jackson on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Jackson are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Jackson.