In Jackson County, Iowa, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Jackson County, 15.6% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 84% of U.S. counties.
What drives Jackson County's score
In Jackson County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 44.1. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 9.9. People with a car or retail loan behind: 1.4%, August 2025, lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Jackson County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Jackson County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 44.1 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202646th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.3% · 2020 to 202441st percentile
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- 32.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line11.0% · 202430th percentile
- Children below the poverty line14.9% · 202438th percentile
- People with a disability13.4% · 2020 to 202425th percentile
- People without health insurance5.7% · 2020 to 202427th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$71,135 · 202438th percentile
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- 31.0 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent19.2% · 2020 to 202456th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income15.6% · fiscal year 20275th percentile
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- 28.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector14.6% · August 202517th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people108.6 · 202540th percentile
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- 9.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.2% · August 202513th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind1.4% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a subprime credit score29.5% · second quarter of 202611th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Jackson County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Jackson County, 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Jackson County
Iowa
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Jackson County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 25.7% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Jackson County, Iowa, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 25.7%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Jackson County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 11.7% in 2019 to 9.8% in 2020.
The share of households in Jackson County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2016 and has since fallen to 10.5%
Low on the chart: 8.4% in 2010. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Jackson County, Iowa.
How Jackson County has changed
Jackson County's population had its largest drop, from 21,858 in 1984 to 20,188 in 1989.
Jackson County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1979 and is down 13% since
High on the chart: 22,415 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Jackson County, Iowa.
The number of jobs located in Jackson County had its largest drop, from 6,308 in 2015 to 5,781 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Jackson County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 12% since
High on the chart: 6,565 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Jackson County, Iowa.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.7% | 2025 4.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.6% | 2024 11.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $23,918 | 2024 $71,135 |
The table uses 4.1% for 2025; the score uses 3.9% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Jackson County's history
1837
Formed December 21, 1837. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 23,615. The 2020 Census counted 19,485, 83% of the peak. Census Bureau
2002
Hail in September 2002 did $20 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
A tornado in June 2007 did $3.25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
Downtown fire devastated Maquoketa on January 19, 2008. Wikipedia
2016
A tornado in July 2016 did $5,000,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
A thunderstorm in July 2016 did $5,000,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Jackson County, 16 of them for flooding. FEMA
Jackson County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Jackson County, in Iowa and Illinois, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Jackson County ranks 3rd of the six; Carroll County is highest, at 29.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County, IA | 40 | 13.0% | 27.5% |
| Carroll County, IL | 25 | 14.6% | 29.2% |
| Jackson County, IA | 15 | 11.0% | 25.7% |
| Dubuque County, IA | 12 | 11.0% | 19.4% |
| Jones County, IA | 11 | 12.0% | 22.4% |
| Jo Daviess County, IL | 8 | 9.8% | 23.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Jackson County the poorest county in Iowa?
No, Jackson County's poverty rate was 11.0% in 2024, 48th highest of 99 in Iowa (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Decatur County, at 18.1%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Jackson County ranks 39th of 99 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Jackson County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Iowa Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Jackson County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Jackson County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.