Jackson receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Niles
Jackson
Opportunity
28 · Bottom 6%
vs24 · Bottom 3%
Growth
23 · Bottom 11%
vs43 · Bottom 38%
Climate
61 · Bottom 30%
vs61 · Bottom 32%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 2%
vs90 · Top 4%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 47%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
91 · Top 22%
vs82 · Top 39%
Economic stability
37 · Bottom 32%
vs53 · Top 46%
Measured values
| Metric | Niles | Jackson | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 153,288 | 160,060 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,425 | $66,073 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,351 | $35,930 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 270/sq mi | 228/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $224,300 | $193,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $942 | $985 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.8% | 75.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.1% | -6.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 23.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 11.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 317 | 352 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -24.0% | 34.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.2" | 32.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 23 mi | 38 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 24.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.7 | 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
Niles
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Jackson
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, strong wind.
Full profiles: Niles, MI Metro Area · Jackson, MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology