County profile · North Carolina
Jackson County, NC market data
How Jackson County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 45,039
- +6.9% since 2020
- Households
- 18,430
- Median household income
- $55,815
- +18.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $284,700
- Jobs located here
- 17,917
- Highest market score
- 84
- Insurance agencies, #142 of 2,272 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.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey 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 45,039 people and 18,430 households. Population estimates show Jackson County grew 6.9% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Jackson County is $55,815, 31% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 18.1%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Jackson County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 132, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (57).
Of the business types scored in Jackson County, insurance agencies (84), HVAC and plumbing companies (77) and auto repair shops (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #142 of 2,272 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (84% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for home repair companies (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.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 84 | #142 of 2,272 | 17 | 9.2 | $2.8M | 223 | 13 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 77 | #89 of 1,707 | 7 | 3.8 | $6.7M | 141 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 74 | #231 of 2,378 | 27 | 14.7 | $626K | 141 | 13 |
| Auto repair and car care | 73 | #280 of 2,401 | 51 | 27.7 | $331K | 123 | 17 |
| Car washes and detailing | 72 | #177 of 1,451 | 5 | 2.7 | $3.4M | 134 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 69 | #233 of 2,057 | 13 | 7.1 | $3.6M | 148 | 28 |
| Grocery stores | 67 | #475 of 2,070 | 8 | 4.3 | $12.7M | 137 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 65 | #601 of 2,402 | 33 | 17.9 | $3.1M | 91 | 8 |
| Nail salons | 61 | #368 of 1,328 | 6 | 3.3 | $2.4M | 143 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 56 | #568 of 1,490 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.6M | 109 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 55 | #968 of 2,358 | 37 | 20.1 | $1.5M | 63 | 20 |
| Convenience stores | 53 | #1,031 of 2,261 | 18 | 9.8 | $5.6M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 52 | #701 of 1,485 | 7 | 3.8 | $2M | 73 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 52 | #775 of 1,771 | 14 | 7.6 | $1.7M | 103 | 45 |
| Barbershops | 51 | #677 of 1,356 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.1M | 109 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 50 | #945 of 1,886 | 17 | 9.2 | $1.1M | 109 | 11 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 48 | #755 of 1,493 | 10 | 5.4 | $2.4M | 82 | 38 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 48 | #783 of 1,461 | 7 | 3.8 | $2M | 79 | 5 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 48 | #897 of 1,656 | 10 | 5.4 | $1.8M | 102 | 27 |
| Gyms | 46 | #1,075 of 1,792 | 12 | 6.5 | $868K | 67 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 46 | #1,278 of 2,200 | 20 | 10.9 | $699K | 80 | 14 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 45 | #1,331 of 2,088 | 25 | 13.6 | $417K | 63 | 4 |
| Spas and skin care | 43 | #1,160 of 1,769 | 21 | 11.4 | $685K | 78 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 43 | #1,537 of 2,394 | 113 | 61.3 | $161K | 106 | 48 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 42 | #539 of 777 | 5 | 2.7 | $2.1M | 51 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 41 | #972 of 1,422 | 13 | 7.1 | $1.4M | 58 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 41 | #1,689 of 2,385 | 74 | 40.2 | $194K | 91 | 14 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 40 | #1,410 of 2,063 | 29 | 15.7 | $2.1M | 55 | 8 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 40 | #1,528 of 2,210 | 44 | 23.9 | $694K | 79 | 13 |
| Hair salons | 40 | #1,657 of 2,339 | 39 | 21.2 | $369K | 86 | 10 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 39 | #1,338 of 1,889 | 26 | 14.1 | $2.3M | 55 | 8 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 39 | #1,448 of 2,087 | 32 | 17.4 | $954K | 75 | 13 |
| Child care and preschools | 36 | #1,188 of 1,611 | 10 | 5.4 | $647K | 65 | 15 |
| Pizza | 35 | #1,650 of 2,090 | 24 | 13.0 | $2.5M | 49 | 35 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 34 | #1,730 of 2,222 | 37 | 20.1 | $1.6M | 53 | 35 |
| Property management | 32 | #762 of 910 | 7 | 3.8 | Index only | 65 | 13 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 32 | #1,109 of 1,334 | 8 | 4.3 | $1.3M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 31 | #2,047 of 2,229 | 71 | 38.5 | Index only | 82 | 48 |
| Pet stores | 30 | #777 of 974 | 5 | 2.7 | $2.8M | 62 | 4 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 29 | #2,056 of 2,176 | 64 | 34.7 | Index only | 72 | 32 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 28 | #2,113 of 2,405 | 264 | 143.2 | $226K | 61 | 91 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 26 | #2,185 of 2,405 | 135 | 73.3 | $441K | 66 | 47 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $11.7M | 97 | 16 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $4.2M | 169 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $842K | 124 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $10.2M | 81 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $6.1M | 194 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $8.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $15.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $12.1M | Too few | 7 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $8.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $12.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $23.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $18.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 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).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $16.9M | $917 | 96 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $55.4M | $3,005 | 116 |
| Food away from home | $59.6M | $3,232 | 79 |
| Groceries | $101.6M | $5,512 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $14.4M | $780 | 78 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.5M | $351 | 60 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10.4M | $565 | 57 |
| Medical and dental services | $18.2M | $987 | 77 |
| Pets | $14M | $759 | 83 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $30.5M | $1,656 | 81 |
| Vehicle insurance | $47.6M | $2,585 | 132 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $46.8M | $2,540 | 84 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $24.1M | $1,310 | 93 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $250.9M | $13,612 | 82 |
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
- 45,039+6.9% since 2020
- Households
- 18,430
- Median age
- 40.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 61%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 491 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 89
- Median household income
- $55,815+18.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $80,171
- Median home value
- $284,700
- Jobs located here
- 17,917
- Daytime population
- 46,061Residents 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.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Swain County, NC14,013 people
- Macon County, NC37,941 people
- Haywood County, NC62,662 people
- Transylvania County, NC33,691 people
- Graham County, NC8,072 people
- Clay County, NC11,610 people
- Buncombe County, NC274,360 people
- Henderson County, NC118,484 people
Questions
How fast is Jackson County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Jackson County at 45,039 people in 2025, up 6.9% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 18,430 households. Median household income rose 18.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Jackson County, NC spend?
Households in Jackson County spend about $250.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $101.6M on groceries and $59.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Jackson County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 132, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (57).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Jackson County, NC?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Jackson County are for insurance agencies (84), HVAC and plumbing companies (77) and auto repair shops (74). Jackson County ranks #142 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
How does Jackson County, NC compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Jackson County is $55,815 a year, 31% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 6.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $284,700, 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 gas stations (84% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for home repair companies (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. 42 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.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
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.