The Town FilesJackson, Kentucky
City in Breathitt County · population 2,237 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $77,500
- Household income
- $32,683
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 43.0
Jackson is a city of 2,237 people in Breathitt County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $77,500, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Kentucky towns, better for cycling than 81% of Kentucky towns.
How Jackson ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jackson is worth $77,500, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $32,683, which is more affordable than 78% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $495 a month. 56.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jackson | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,500 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $495 | $837 |
| Median household income | $32,683 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 56.1% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Jackson
| People | Jackson | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.7% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.3% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Jackson
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.4 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. The strongest, an F1, struck on February 22, 2003 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 22, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Breathitt County since 1996
Breathitt County has been included in 49 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Breathitt County
Breathitt County had 2,635 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,008 a year. Unemployment was 7.5% in 2023; in Jackson itself the ACS puts it at 12.3%.
Public schools in Jackson
7 public schools with 1,889 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breathitt County High School | 7-12 | 731 | 17.0 |
| Breathitt Elementary | PK-2 | 373 | 16.2 |
| Sebastian Elementary School | 3-6 | 373 | 17.8 |
| Jackson City School | PK-12 | 356 | 16.2 |
| Breathitt Regional School | 6-12 | 38 | 19.0 |
| Breathitt Learning Academy | 6-12 | 17 | 8.5 |
| Breathitt County Area Technology Center | 8-12 | 1 | — |
Towns near Jackson
- Beattyville, KY18.2 mi · 2,176 people · home $113,600
- Salyersville, KY21.0 mi · 1,591 people · home $77,400
- Hazard, KY23.2 mi · 5,263 people · home $145,400
- West Liberty, KY25.1 mi · 3,215 people · home $206,300
- Hindman, KY26.9 mi · 701 people · home $143,200
Jackson questions
Is Jackson, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jackson scores better for retirees than 62% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 58%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Jackson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jackson is valued at $77,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,683, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $495 a month.
What is the weather like in Jackson?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.4 inches of snow.
Does Jackson get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on February 22, 2003. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)