Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Jackson’s best subject grades are an A− for walkability and history; its weakest is a D− for incomes. 35% of working residents work locally in Jackson, above both Kentucky’s towns (15%) and U.S. towns (8%). Only 6 of Kentucky’s 236 towns score lower on incomes. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 95% of the country. Jackson's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 92% of U.S. towns. Jackson has 6 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Breathitt County Jail and Crain's Wholesale and Retail Store. Jackson has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Jackson beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Where Jackson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Kentucky), ordered by how far Jackson is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1880.
6 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Jackson, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Jackson.
Jackson’s median rent is $495 a month, below both the Kentucky town median ($934 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). Typical home values fell 19% in the year to September 2026. 56% of households own their home in Jackson.
| Jackson | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $495 a month | $934 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 56% | 59% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Breathitt County school district. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Breathitt County High School, with 669 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sebastian Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades 3–6 | Grades 3–6 | 393 | D |
| Breathitt County High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 669 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within KY on state tests and graduation
19% of Jackson adults report frequent physical distress. Jackson beats the Kentucky average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 23% of Jackson adults smoke cigarettes.
| Jackson | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 18% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 23% | 19% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 38% | 35% |
| What stands out | Jackson | KY |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 8.2% | 5.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.8% | 10.2% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 5.4% | 4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
About one in 3 of Jackson’s working residents works in town. The median household income in Jackson is $33,000. Since 2013, Jackson has lost 573 jobs, to 2,248 in 2023.
| Jackson | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 27% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $33,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 82% of U.S. communities. Since 1984, 53 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Jackson.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Jackson has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 87°, January nights drop to 25° and about 23 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Jackson’s property crime rate is 5.8 per 1,000 residents.
| Jackson | Kentucky towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.8 per 1,000 residents | 8.3 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1 per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 1.6 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
1 within 15 miles of the center of Jackson
About 2 of every 100 Jackson residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Kentucky.
6 places in Jackson on the National Register of Historic Places.
5 notable people were born in Jackson.
City in Kentucky, United States
Jackson is a home rule-class city in Breathitt County, Kentucky, United States, and its county seat. The population was 2,237 at the 2020 census. It was the home of the Jackson Academy, which became Lees College.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.
5 notable people were born here, including Sturgill Simpson and Jeffrey Reddick.
