Unemployment in Jackson County, Kentucky, is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties
In Jackson County, 7.0% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 94% of U.S. counties.
What drives Jackson County's score
In Jackson County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 93.6. Late payments on loans come next, at 87.7.
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 does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (5.3%, 2020 to 2024) and renters paying half their income or more in rent (17.5%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 93.6 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year7.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 2026top 5%
- Adults 25 to 54 not working31.7% · 2020 to 202492nd percentile
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- 87.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind11.8% · August 2025top 5%
- People with a car or retail loan behind9.0% · August 202588th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score49.8% · second quarter of 202679th percentile
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- 83.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector32.6% · August 202580th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people251.8 · 202585th percentile
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- 78.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line22.0% · 202491st percentile
- Children below the poverty line29.6% · 202491st percentile
- People with a disability24.2% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
- People without health insurance5.3% · 2020 to 202423rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$49,388 · 202492nd percentile
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- 55.0 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 rent17.5% · 2020 to 202446th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.1% · fiscal year 202763rd 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, 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Jackson County
Kentucky
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Jackson County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 44.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in only a little more than benefit checks
In Jackson County, Kentucky, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 44.0%; 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 rose most sharply after its 2022 low, from 25.3% in 2022 to 29.3% in 2023.
The share of households in Jackson County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen by about a fifth
Low on the chart: 25.3% in 2022. 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, Kentucky.
How Jackson County has changed
Jackson County's population had its largest rise, from 10,669 in 1974 to 11,836 in 1979.
Jackson County's population rose by about a third from 1969 to 2024, reaching 13,358
High on the chart: 13,476 in 2004. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Jackson County, Kentucky.
The number of jobs located in Jackson County had its largest rise, from 1,782 in 1995 to 3,101 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Jackson County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 43% since
High on the chart: 3,101 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Jackson County, Kentucky.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 11.3% | 2025 7.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 38.3% | 2024 22.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $12,203 | 2024 $49,388 |
The table uses 7.1% for 2025; the score uses 7.0% 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
1858
1858, from land given by Madison, Estill, Owsley, Clay, Laurel, and Rockcastle counties. Wikipedia
1940
The county's largest recorded population was the 1940 Census count of 16,339. The 2020 Census counted 12,955, 79% of the peak. Census Bureau
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Since 1970
34 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Jackson County, 19 of them for flooding. FEMA
Jackson County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Jackson County, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Jackson County ranks 5th of the eight; Owsley County is highest, at 65.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County, KY | 98 | 33.6% | 56.5% |
| Lee County, KY | 96 | 29.6% | 57.7% |
| Owsley County, KY | 95 | 34.6% | 65.1% |
| Jackson County, KY | 94 | 22.0% | 44.0% |
| Rockcastle County, KY | 94 | 21.8% | 43.3% |
| Estill County, KY | 93 | 21.0% | 44.2% |
| Laurel County, KY | 90 | 17.8% | 35.7% |
| Madison County, KY | 63 | 16.4% | 25.6% |
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 Kentucky?
No, Jackson County's poverty rate was 22.0% in 2024, 28th highest of 120 in Kentucky (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is McCreary County, at 36.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Jackson County ranks 16th of 120 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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AppalReD 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.