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Living in Jackson, TN

Small city in Tennessee

Jackson is a small city in Tennessee, home to about 68,000 people, with 148,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Jackson a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $230k and rents for $1,680 a month
  • Low taxes: no state income tax, 0.72% property tax
  • Easy flying: MEM is 77 mi away

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Smaller job market: about 148,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Jackson ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
68,000
148,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
51°F / 90°F
Average daily highs · 3″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$230k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,680/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
86
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 0.72% property tax
Safety
2.6× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
13 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly earthquakes, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
0
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
27%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MEM
77 mi away

Living in Jackson: common questions

What is the cost of living in Jackson?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $230k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,680 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 86, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Jackson?

Tennessee has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 0.72% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Jackson safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.6× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Jackson?

Jackson has cool winters: winter days average around 51°F and summer days around 90°F, with roughly 3″ of snow a year.

Does Jackson get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is high, mainly from earthquakes, tornadoes and cold waves: 13 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 4.2 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Jackson?

The nearest major airport is MEM, about 77 mi away.

How Jackson scores

Each bar compares Jackson with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small town Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Quiet / rural Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Strong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cool winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Very affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Slow & calm Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Below average
🎓Education Poor
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Below average
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Poor
🛡️Safety Higher crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Below average
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Average
✈️Airport Good

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Is Jackson right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.