Living in Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson is Mississippi's capital and the center of the metro. It's where you'll find state government, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the state's big museums, and some of the oldest neighborhoods in the area, like Belhaven, Fondren and Eastover.

By Jared Laster, Living in Mississippi. Updated 2026-10-24.

Watch: Pros and Cons of Living in Jackson Mississippi

Jackson at a glance

Based on information from MLS United, LLC. for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What Jackson is like

Jackson is the state capital and the largest city in the metro, with about 141,000 people as of mid-2025. State government is a big part of daily life downtown, and so are the colleges: Belhaven University and Millsaps College sit in the Belhaven area, and Jackson State University is on the west side.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is just north of downtown on North State Street. It's the state's only academic medical center, with more than 10,000 employees and the only children's hospital in Mississippi.

Historic neighborhoods

Belhaven grew up in the early 1900s as one of the neighborhoods ringing downtown. Belhaven Heights went on the National Register in 1983, and the larger Belhaven Historic District followed in 2012 with 1,306 contributing buildings. You'll see everything from big Georgian and Italianate houses to cottages and bungalows, plus parks like Belhaven Park and Laurel Street Park.

Fondren is just north of UMMC. Its historic commercial strip along North State Street dates back to a grocery store David Fondren built in 1893, and today it's known for music, food and the arts.

Eastover was laid out starting in 1948 on a former horse farm near the Pearl River. It was planned with large lots and winding streets, modeled on Houston's River Oaks, and its early homes are mostly Colonial Revival.

Things to do

The Two Mississippi Museums (the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum) opened downtown in December 2017 for the state's bicentennial. The State Capitol is a few blocks away.

LeFleur's Bluff State Park covers 305 acres in the middle of the city, with Mayes Lake, nature trails, a disc golf course and a campground.

What to ask before you buy in Jackson

Jackson's drinking water and sewer systems have been run by JXN Water under a federal court-appointed interim third-party manager since November 2022. In October 2026 the manager released a transition plan that favors moving the system to an independent public water authority, with federal oversight expected to end no later than July 1, 2028. If you're buying in Jackson, ask about water service and recent bills for the specific property.

Home values swing a lot from one part of the city to the next, so citywide numbers don't tell you much about a given street. School zoning also varies, so confirm the zoned schools for any address. We're happy to pull both for a home you're looking at.

Neighborhoods in and around Jackson

Schools

Jackson Public Schools earned a C for the 2025-26 school year, and 20 of its 35 rated schools earned a C or higher. Barack Obama, Casey, McWillie and North Jackson elementary schools earned A grades, and Murrah High School earned a B. Zoning varies across the city, so check the address.

Getting around

Check it yourself

Niche grades as of October 24, 2026. They change, so click through for the latest. We share these so you can see the data for yourself; we don't rate neighborhoods.

Homes we're featuring in Jackson

Questions about living in Jackson

What are the historic neighborhoods in Jackson?

Belhaven and Belhaven Heights near downtown are both on the National Register of Historic Places, Fondren has a historic commercial district north of UMMC, and Eastover was developed starting in 1948 with large lots near the Pearl River.

What school district serves Jackson?

Jackson Public Schools, which earned a C for the 2025-26 school year. Four of its elementary schools earned an A and Murrah High School earned a B. Confirm the zoned schools for any address.

Who runs Jackson's water system?

JXN Water, under a federal court-appointed interim third-party manager, has run the drinking water and sewer systems since November 2022. Oversight is expected to end by July 1, 2028, so ask about water service for any home you're considering.

What do homes cost in Jackson?

The Census median home value is $111,700 (2020-2024). Based on MLS data, the median sold price in Jackson was $97,000 in September 2026 (98 sales). Monthly medians swung from $95,000 to $161,000 over the past year, and values vary a lot by neighborhood.

Thinking about Jackson?

Send us a message.

Call or text (601) 292-6070 · Office (228) 471-5211 · Jared Laster and Charles Lacey, licensed Mississippi real estate agents with Real Broker, LLC.