Groundwork

County profile · Illinois

Jackson County, IL market data

How Jackson County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.

Population, 2025
52,501
−1.5% since 2020
Households
22,955
Median household income
$48,763
+30.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Median home value
$137,300
Jobs located here
23,658
Highest market score
57
Child care and preschools, #622 of 1,611 scored counties

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Jackson County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Jackson County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Jackson County has an estimated 52,501 people and 22,955 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Jackson County declined 1.5%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Jackson County is $48,763, 40% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 30.9%, before inflation.

Relative to the U.S., household spending in Jackson County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 94, where 100 is the U.S. average, so still below it) and lowest on child care and other personal services (53).

Of the business types scored in Jackson County, child care centers and preschools (57), gas stations (56) and gyms (54) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For child care centers and preschools, that ranks #622 of 1,611 scored counties.

Jackson County is part of the Carbondale area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for veterinarians (58% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (43% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in Jackson County

Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Jackson County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.

Every business type in Jackson County, IL, highest Groundwork market score first, with its rank among counties, listings, listings per 10,000 households, spending per listing and official establishments
Business typeScoreRank among countiesListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingSpending per listing vs. U.S. (100)Official establishments
Child care and preschools57#622 of 1,61162.6$1.2M1174
Gas stations56#894 of 2,358156.5$3.6M15021
Gyms54#759 of 1,792125.2$1.2M963
Hair salons54#949 of 2,3393615.7$523K1227
Grocery and convenience stores53#1,054 of 2,4023013.1$4.1M12113
Nail salons50#697 of 1,32893.9$2.1M1253
Spas and skin care50#876 of 1,769167.0$1.2M1343
Chiropractors48#790 of 1,490114.8$2.5M1046
Convenience stores47#1,222 of 2,261146.1$8.8M111Under 3
Salons, barbers and spas47#1,323 of 2,3857030.5$269K12713
Collision repair and body shops46#766 of 1,32783.5$2.6M833
Auto repair shops46#1,381 of 2,3784519.6$458K10319
Grocery stores45#1,160 of 2,070104.4$12.3M13211
Optometrists and eye care44#815 of 1,30293.9$3M974
Primary care and pediatrics44#1,029 of 1,656146.1$2M11032
Martial arts and dance studios42#881 of 1,33473.0$2.1M1066
Dentists and orthodontists42#1,214 of 1,886229.6$1.2M12719
Auto repair and car care42#1,545 of 2,4017934.4$261K9731
Barbershops41#905 of 1,35683.5$2.4M125Under 3
Lawn, cleaning and pest control41#1,200 of 1,771146.1$1.7M10227
Real estate agents and brokers40#1,575 of 2,1764017.4Index only1288
Physical therapy39#999 of 1,422114.8$2.5M10411
Landscaping and lawn care37#1,087 of 1,493104.4$2.4M8219
Home repair trades37#1,607 of 2,0572510.9$2.1M8527
Electricians36#894 of 1,16073.0$7.4M627
Tire shops36#1,118 of 1,530114.8$1.9M754
Gyms, studios and classes35#1,652 of 2,0882711.8$555K849
Real estate34#1,911 of 2,2295323.1Index only12218
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios32#666 of 77783.5$1.9M463
Funeral homes31#1,193 of 1,47283.5$358K534
HVAC and plumbing30#1,488 of 1,707156.5$3.5M7317
Bakeries and dessert shops29#1,639 of 1,889198.3$3.8M9314
Property management28#814 of 910104.4Index only505
Doctors, dentists and clinics28#2,148 of 2,39419785.8$139K9172
Pet grooming and boarding27#1,243 of 1,46193.9$1.7M686
Car washes and detailing26#1,279 of 1,451114.8$1.9M745
Clothing and shoe stores25#1,836 of 2,0873816.6$1M8019
Clothing, shoes and laundry25#1,969 of 2,2105423.5$713K8119
Pet businesses25#1,999 of 2,2002711.8$579K6614
Fast food and sandwich shops23#1,998 of 2,2223615.7$2M6646
Pizza21#1,987 of 2,0902812.2$2.6M5146
Coffee shops and cafes20#1,976 of 2,0633013.1$2.4M6614
Sit-down restaurants19#2,321 of 2,40513558.8$541K8149
Veterinarians17#1,408 of 1,485125.2$1.3M488
Insurance agencies17#2,142 of 2,2724318.7$756K6023
Restaurants and cafes16#2,353 of 2,405281122.4$260K70111
Home inspectorsNot scoredNot scored31.3Index only35Under 3
House cleaningNot scoredNot scored31.3$8M1255
LaundromatsNot scoredNot scored31.3$12.8M103Under 3
Pet storesNot scoredNot scored31.3$5.2M115Under 3
Roofing and guttersNot scoredNot scored31.3$17.3M2043
Oil change and quick lubeNot scoredNot scored20.9$10.3MToo few3
Dry cleanersNot scoredNot scored10.4$38.5MToo fewUnder 3
Pest controlNot scoredNot scored10.4$24MToo few3
Mortgage brokers and lendersNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Urgent care and walk-in clinicsNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3

Household spending in Jackson County

What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).

Annual household spending in Jackson County, IL by line, per household, and against the U.S.
Spending lineA year, all householdsPer householdIndex vs. U.S. (100)
Vehicle maintenance and repairs$20.6M$89794
Gasoline and other fuels$53.6M$2,33590
Food away from home$73M$3,18178
Groceries$122.6M$5,34385
Personal care products and services$18.8M$82182
Child care and other personal services$7.1M$30753
Memberships, classes and admissions$15M$65266
Medical and dental services$27.4M$1,19493
Pets$15.6M$68275
Clothing, shoes and related services$38.5M$1,67782
Vehicle insurance$32.5M$1,41572
Home repairs, maintenance and insurance$51.9M$2,26075
Lawn care, cleaning and other household services$24M$1,04474
Rent and homeowner costs$279.5M$12,17873

Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.

Population and households in Jackson County

Population, 2025 estimate
52,501−1.5% since 2020
Households
22,955
Median age
37.7
Homes lived in by their owners
50%
Vehicles per household
1.6
Land area
584 sq. mi.
People per square mile
91
Median household income
$48,763+30.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Average household income
$70,409
Median home value
$137,300
Jobs located here
23,658
Daytime population
57,693Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here

Looking at a specific site in Jackson County?

These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.

Or open the report at the center of Jackson County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Jackson County is part of the Carbondale, IL area.

Questions

How fast is Jackson County, IL growing?

Population estimates put Jackson County at 52,501 people in 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 22,955 households. Median household income rose 30.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.

How much do households in Jackson County, IL spend?

Households in Jackson County spend about $279.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $122.6M on groceries and $73M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Jackson County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 94, where 100 is the U.S. average, so still below it) and the least on child care and other personal services (53).

Which business types have the highest market scores in Jackson County, IL?

The highest Groundwork market scores in Jackson County are for child care centers and preschools (57), gas stations (56) and gyms (54). Jackson County ranks #622 of 1,611 scored counties for child care centers and preschools.

How does Jackson County, IL compare with the U.S.?

The median household income in Jackson County is $48,763 a year, 40% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $137,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Jackson County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for veterinarians (58% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (43% below the U.S. rate).

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 46 of the 56 business types have a score in Jackson County, each ranked against other counties.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Jackson County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

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Screening a site or an acquisition in Jackson County?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

The button opens the report at the center of Jackson County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.