States › California › Jackson

Is Jackson, CA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 24 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,51514% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$75,753about $6,313/month · 13% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$442,70033% higher than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 57% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.8 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $60,600 a year. That is $29 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other California cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 89 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Jackson
$1,515
Mayfair
$1,336
Big Bear Lake
$2,598
East Porterville
$1,109
Wrightwood
$1,944
Twin Lakes
$3,075
Buellton
$3,294

How much do households earn in Jackson?

Under $25k
15.5%
$25k–50k
22.6%
$50k–100k
28.4%
$100k–150k
18.7%
$150k+
7.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 26.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Jackson

SizeJacksonU.S. average
2 bedrooms$1,587$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,904$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Jackson overall?

Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).

Housing
154
Goods (food, clothes…)
106
Utilities
159
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Jackson, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Jackson

🏛️ Property tax$2,632a year · 0.59% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$208a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Jackson

Commute to work20.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree23.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home60.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line10.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Jackson?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,557 a month less.

Renting
$1,515
Owning
$3,072

Owning assumes a typical $442,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $44,270 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Jackson, CA?

Renting in Jackson costs a median of about $1,515 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in Jackson?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $60,600 a year, or $29 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Jackson cheap or expensive?

Jackson is rated OK: rent takes 24.0% of the typical household income of $75,753. It ranks 89th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Jackson?

The median homeowner in Jackson pays $2,632 a year in property taxes, about 0.59% of the median home value.

Is Jackson more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Jackson?

The median home value in Jackson is $442,700, about 5.8 times the typical yearly household income.

5,048 people live in Jackson. Numbers are typical (middle) values.