The Town FilesJackson Heights, North Carolina
Community in Lenoir County · population 1,071 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,500
- Household income
- $39,403
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 57.5
Jackson Heights is a community of 1,071 people in Lenoir County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $133,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900).
How Jackson Heights ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jackson Heights is worth $133,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $39,403, which is more affordable than 66% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $793 a month. 74.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jackson Heights | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $793 | $969 |
| Median household income | $39,403 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 74.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.6% | — |
Who lives in Jackson Heights
| People | Jackson Heights | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Jackson Heights
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 53.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 66 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson Heights since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 16, 1996 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 9, 1988.
Severe weather in Lenoir County since 1996
Lenoir County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Lenoir County
Lenoir County had 29,083 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,091 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Jackson Heights itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Jackson Heights
- Kinston, NC4.2 mi · 19,900 people · home $119,300
- Deep Run, NC7.4 mi · 572 people · home $73,400
- La Grange, NC10.5 mi · 2,595 people · home $83,800
- Walnut Creek, NC14.9 mi · 1,084 people · home $468,700
- Grifton, NC15.2 mi · 2,448 people · home $152,700
- Snow Hill, NC15.8 mi · 1,481 people · home $135,700
- Maury, NC17.8 mi · 1,404 people · home —
- Elroy, NC17.9 mi · 3,755 people · home $133,100
Jackson Heights questions
Is Jackson Heights, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jackson Heights scores better for retirees than 36% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 62%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.5).
How much does a house cost in Jackson Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Jackson Heights is valued at $133,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,403, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $793 a month.
What is the weather like in Jackson Heights?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Jackson Heights get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jackson Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 16, 1996. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)