Jackson is a home rule-class city in Breathitt County, Kentucky, United States, and its county seat. The population was 2,237 at the 2020 census. It was the home of the Jackson Academy, which became Lees College.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code41339

Area code606

Living in Jackson

Housing in Jackson

$74K▼ 19.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Jackson home is worth about $74,000, down 19.7% in a year, 68% below the Kentucky typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Jackson

Safety Grade B

Jackson reports less crime per resident than 63% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade. Kentucky has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Jackson sits closer to the middle.

Violent crime per 1,000

Jackson 1

Kentucky 2.1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Jackson 5.8

Kentucky 12.8

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Jackson

Full picture →

About one in 3 of Jackson’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Hazard (6%), Lexington-Fayette urban county (4%) and Beattyville (3%). Half commute less than 19 miles.

Hazard

Lexington-Fayette urban county

Beattyville

Prestonsburg

35%Work in townlive and work in Jackson 19 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,248Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Jackson →

Health in Jackson

Compared with Kentucky

2worse than KY

of 5 measures CDC estimates. The other 3 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 0 close Habits all close Care 1▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

25.3%More older adults who have lost all their teethKY 18.9% · worse 51.2%Fewer adults seeing a dentistKY 58.1% · worse

Care nearby

Kentucky River Medical CenterJackson · 6.8 mi · ER · rural critical access

Juniper Health Breathitt CountyJackson · 0.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Jackson · CMS · HRSAHealth in Jackson →

Natural hazards in Jackson

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 82% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding

53Does Jackson flood?paid flood claims since 1984 14Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Jackson

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Jackson →

Climate in Jackson

Full climate →

Jackson has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 23 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

48° / 28°Winter

69° / 43°Spring

86° / 63°Summer

70° / 46°Fall

How much snow does Jackson get?About 23 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 1, with the last in spring around Apr 6.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.5° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Jackson →

Schools in Jackson

All Jackson schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Jackson’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 76% of Kentucky’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictBreathitt CountySchools5

Sebastian Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades 3–6 · 393 students Breathitt ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–2 · 371 students Breathitt County High School C+High · Grades 7–12 · 669 students Breathitt County Area Technology CenterHigh · Grades 8–12 Jackson City School B-Other · Grades PK–12 · 371 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within KY. Ratings are from neighbors.