Jackson receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Muskegon-Norton Shores
Jackson
Opportunity
20 · Bottom 2%
vs24 · Bottom 3%
Growth
31 · Bottom 21%
vs43 · Bottom 38%
Climate
64 · Bottom 42%
vs61 · Bottom 32%
Physical resilience
98 · Top 1%
vs90 · Top 4%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 40%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
63 · Bottom 26%
vs82 · Top 39%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 48%
vs53 · Top 46%
Measured values
| Metric | Muskegon-Norton Shores | Jackson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 175,961 | 160,060 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,024 | $66,073 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,532 | $35,930 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 349/sq mi | 228/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $198,300 | $193,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,028 | $985 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 78.1% | 75.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.9% | -6.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 23.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 11.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 338 | 352 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -26.4% | 34.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.1" | 32.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 59 mi | 38 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 24.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.0 | 41.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Muskegon-Norton Shores
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Jackson
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, strong wind.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Muskegon-Norton Shores
60
Your Score
59
Area Score
Jackson
65
Your Score
61
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI Metro Area · Jackson, MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology