In Jackson County, Missouri, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Jackson County, 26.3% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 88% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 72% of U.S. counties.
What drives Jackson County's score
In Jackson County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 84.9. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 73.7.
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: adults 25 to 54 not working (17.0%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a disability (13.8%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 84.9 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent23.7% · 2020 to 202481st percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income26.3% · fiscal year 202788th percentile
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- 73.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector30.9% · August 202576th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people184 · 202570th percentile
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- 69.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.7% · August 202568th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.3% · August 202576th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score44.3% · second quarter of 202664th percentile
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- 51.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.3% · 202459th percentile
- Children below the poverty line19.0% · 202460th percentile
- People with a disability13.8% · 2020 to 202429th percentile
- People without health insurance10.7% · 2020 to 202470th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$70,661 · 202439th percentile
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- 36.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202645th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.0% · 2020 to 202427th 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, 15.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Jackson County
Missouri
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Jackson County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 21.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Jackson County, Missouri, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 21.1%; 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 moved most in two steps: 10.9% in 2009 to 12.0% in 2010; 14.1% in 2016 to 13.0% in 2017.
The share of households in Jackson County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen to 10.3%
Low on the chart: 10.1% in 2021. 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, Missouri.
How Jackson County has changed
Jackson County's population had its largest rise, from 688,135 in 2014 to 714,801 in 2019.
Jackson County's population rose 11% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its highest on the chart
High on the chart: 727,362 in 2024. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Jackson County, Missouri.
The number of jobs located in Jackson County fell most sharply after its 2000 high, from 393,430 in 2000 to 363,766 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Jackson County was about the same in 2025 as in 1990
High on the chart: 393,430 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Jackson County, Missouri.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.3% | 2025 4.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.4% | 2024 14.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,200 | 2024 $70,661 |
The table uses 4.2% for 2025; the score uses 3.8% 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
1826
Organized December 15, 1826. Wikipedia
1830
Native Americans forced west by Indian Removal Act 1830. Wikipedia
1833
Mormons forced out by mob violence 1833. Wikipedia
1957
A tornado in May 1957 did $2.5 million in property damage and killed 37 people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1996
A thunderstorm in May 1996 did $10 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1998
A flash flood in October 1998 did $20 million in property damage and killed nine people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1999
A flash flood in June 1999 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 717,204, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1965
26 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Jackson County, 18 of them for flooding. FEMA
Jackson County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Jackson County, in Missouri and Kansas, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Jackson County ranks 5th of the eight; Lafayette County is highest, at 29.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyandotte County, KS | 89 | 15.0% | 25.8% |
| Jackson County, MO | 72 | 14.3% | 21.1% |
| Lafayette County, MO | 54 | 9.7% | 29.4% |
| Ray County, MO | 45 | 9.0% | 26.4% |
| Cass County, MO | 32 | 7.0% | 19.8% |
| Clay County, MO | 30 | 8.9% | 17.3% |
| Johnson County, MO | 26 | 11.8% | 24.0% |
| Johnson County, KS | 5 | 6.0% | 10.4% |
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 Missouri?
No, Jackson County's poverty rate was 14.3% in 2024, 53rd highest of 115 in Missouri (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Dunklin County, at 25.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Jackson County ranks 23rd of 115 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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Credit & Homeownership Empowerment Services, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City
HUD-approved housing counselor
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NSC (NACA Counseling Subsidiary) - Kansas City, MO
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Aid of Western Missouri
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.