About one in five people in Jackson County, Mississippi, has a disability
In Jackson County, 21.5% of people reported a disability (Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024). That is higher than in 86% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 75% of U.S. counties.
What drives Jackson County's score
In Jackson County, late payments on loans weigh most: the score for late payments on loans is 82.4. About one in three people (33.3%, Q4 2025) has a subprime credit score, a higher share than in 83% of U.S. counties. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 78.1.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Jackson County does better than most counties on two measures: unemployment rate, 12-month average (3.5%, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (19.0%, fiscal year 2027).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Jackson County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 82.4 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.8% · August 202581st percentile
- People with a credit card behind7.7% · August 202582nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score33.3% · Q4 202583rd percentile
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- 78.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector28.2% · August 202568th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people269.1 · 202587th percentile
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- 64.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line19.8% · 202463rd percentile
- People with a disability21.5% · 2020 to 202486th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$69,544 · 202442nd percentile
- People below the poverty line13.8% · 202455th percentile
- People without health insurance11.5% · 2020 to 202475th percentile
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- 54.7 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income19.0% · fiscal year 202731st percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent23.0% · 2020 to 202477th percentile
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- 45.1 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.4% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average3.5% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202629th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; 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 Aug 2026.
Where the money in Jackson County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Jackson County
Mississippi
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Jackson County in 2024, pay from work was 57 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 18 cents. Benefit checks were 25 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 6 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Jackson County, benefit checks rose from 6 to 25 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Jackson County, Mississippi: 24.9% and 57.2% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 24.9% of all personal income in Jackson County, Mississippi (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
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, 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Jackson County has changed
The number of people living in Jackson County grew by about 73% between 1969 and 2024, from 84,968 to 147,002. The number of jobs located there grew by about 17% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 7.1% in 1990 to 3.7% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 84,968 | 2024 147,002 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 43,918 | 2024 51,303 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.1% | 2025 3.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 15.4% | 2024 13.8% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $26,310 | 2024 $69,544 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 5.6% | 2024 24.9% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Jackson County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 143,252, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2005
Hurricane Camille in August 1969 and Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005 caused catastrophic effects to county. Wikipedia
2006
Naval Station Pascagoula decommissioned in 2006 as part of 2005 BRAC recommendations. Wikipedia
2011
Lightning: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2012
Flash flood: $1.2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
Flash flood: $1.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
Tornado: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
36 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Jackson County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Jackson County beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border Jackson County, in Mississippi and Alabama, three score higher. Of the group, Jackson County gets the smallest share of its income from benefit checks; Stone County gets the largest, at 35.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile County, AL | 91 | 16.7% | 27.2% |
| Harrison County, MS | 86 | 15.9% | 27.9% |
| Stone County, MS | 79 | 16.0% | 35.8% |
| Jackson County, MS | 75 | 13.8% | 24.9% |
| George County, MS | 72 | 14.1% | 28.5% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 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 Mississippi?
No, Jackson County's poverty rate was 13.8% in 2024, 78th highest of 82 in Mississippi (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Issaquena County, at 55.7%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Jackson County ranks 66th of 82 in the state.
Jackson County, Mississippi: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Jackson County, Mississippi?
13.8% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in seven people. Among children it was 19.8%.
Is Jackson County the poorest county in Mississippi?
No, Jackson County's poverty rate was 13.8% in 2024, 78th highest of 82 in Mississippi (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Issaquena County, at 55.7%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Jackson County ranks 66th of 82 in the state.
What is the population of Jackson County, Mississippi?
About 147,002 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 143,252, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Jackson County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Mississippi Center for Legal Services
Legal aid
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North Mississippi Rural Legal Services
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies 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 Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- 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.