In Jackson County, Wisconsin, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Jackson County, 18.4% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 74% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 72% of U.S. counties.
What drives Jackson County's score
In Jackson County, income and the safety net is the highest-scoring part, at 44.3. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 29.4. People with a credit card behind: 4.1%, August 2025, lower than in 73% 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.
- 44.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.5% · 202452nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.0% · 202449th percentile
- People with a disability13.6% · 2020 to 202427th percentile
- People without health insurance6.8% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$66,149 · 202451st percentile
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- 42.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202657th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.0% · 2020 to 202427th percentile
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- 37.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.1% · August 202531st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people115.1 · 202543rd percentile
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- 32.6 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 rent16.4% · 2020 to 202439th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.4% · fiscal year 202725th percentile
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- 29.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.1% · August 202526th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.7% · August 202527th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score36.3% · second quarter of 202634th 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, 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Jackson County
Wisconsin
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Jackson County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 26.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Jackson County, Wisconsin, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 26.2%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
SNAP food aid is one of the benefit checks counted in the income totals above.
The share of households in Jackson County getting SNAP food aid doubled to 15.3%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2009 to 2010, reaching 9.5%. 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, Wisconsin.
How Jackson County has changed
Jackson County's population had its largest rise, from 17,363 in 1994 to 18,859 in 1999.
Jackson County's population rose by about a third from 1969 to 2024, reaching 21,027
High on the chart: 21,132 in 2019. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Jackson County, Wisconsin.
The number of jobs located in Jackson County had its largest rise, from 6,021 in 1995 to 10,621 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Jackson County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 29% since
High on the chart: 10,621 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Jackson County, Wisconsin.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.2% | 2025 4.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 16.2% | 2024 13.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,227 | 2024 $66,149 |
The table uses 4.1% for 2025; the score uses 4.2% 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
1853
Created in 1853 from Crawford County. Wikipedia
1969
A tornado in June 1969 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1996
A thunderstorm in August 1996 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
A flood in September 2010 did $2.6 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 21,145, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1976
14 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Jackson County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Jackson County beside its neighbors
Jackson County scores higher than all seven counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Jackson County ranks 3rd of the eight; Juneau County is highest, at 30.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County, WI | 27 | 13.5% | 26.2% |
| Juneau County, WI | 21 | 10.4% | 30.0% |
| Clark County, WI | 15 | 13.7% | 24.4% |
| Wood County, WI | 15 | 11.3% | 26.5% |
| Monroe County, WI | 13 | 9.8% | 23.7% |
| La Crosse County, WI | 9 | 11.3% | 19.6% |
| Eau Claire County, WI | 8 | 10.8% | 19.4% |
| Trempealeau County, WI | 4 | 9.4% | 24.4% |
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 Wisconsin?
No, Jackson County's poverty rate was 13.5% in 2024, 8th highest of 72 in Wisconsin (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Menominee County, at 24.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Jackson County ranks 13th of 72 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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Legal Action of Wisconsin
Legal aid
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Disability Rights Wisconsin
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.