When it comes to the economic well-being of its residents and the overall state of its children, Jackson County ranks 64th out of 95 counties in the state, according to the KIDS Count report released earlier this month by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. The organization ranked each county in Tennessee based on data relative to four factors - economic well-being, family and community, health and education.
In the economic well-being category, Jackson County ranked 70th overall in the state. Factors used to determine the ranking in that category include the percentage of children living in poverty as well as cost burdens of families residing in Benton.
With 8.8 percent of families considered severely housing-cost burdened, Jackson County’s rank of 42 in that category was the highest mark in the county for overall economic well-being. The county saw some decline from last year’s 33rd ranking in severe housing-cost burden. In 2023, the TCCY recorded Jackson’s percentage of its families burdened by housing costs at 9.1.
Jackson County showed an increase in the number of families that are reportedly burdened by child-care costs. In 2023, the TCCY ranked the county 61st as a result of 27.1 percent of families burdened by the cost of child care. This year, the county ranked 80th in the state, as it saw a higher percentage burdened by child-care costs at 36.2.
Childcare cost burden is defined as the average market rate price for full time care of an infant
and a two-year-old through school age child, as a percentage of the county’s estimated median
household income.
In 2021, Jackson County’s percentage of children reportedly living in poverty was recorded at 26.8 percent, which ranked it 83rd among other Tennessee counties. This year’s report, which reflects data from 2022, that percentage was down slightly at 24.8, ranking the county at 78th.
The percentage of children living in poverty across the state was recorded at 17.8, down slightly from last year’s report of 18.8 percent. Williamson County shows the lowest number of children living in poverty at 3.6 percent. Lake County is recording the highest number of children living in poverty at 42.9 percent.
Total population measured in 2023 for Jackson County was 12,363, with 2,264 of those under 18 years old. Children make up roughly 18.3 percent of Jackson’s overall population. Tennessee recorded a population of 7,126,489 in 2023.
The KIDS Count report utilizes data from a handful of categories to determine a county’s overall economic well-being ranking, including household income and the number of children who receive WIC and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance) benefits.
Jackson County’s median household income reported from 2022 was $43,306. Tennessee’s median household income was listed at $65,231. Jackson ranked 90th overall among other counties for its median household income.
In 2022, Jackson County’s median home sales price was reported at $193,992, while the state’s average was recorded at $325,000.
There were 647 (28.6 percent) children in Jackson County who received SNAP benefits during fiscal year 2022-23. Across the state, that percentage was recorded at 22.4 percent.
Jackson County’s fair-market rent was listed at $909 during fiscal year 2022-23.
The percentage of children under five years old in Jackson County receiving WIC benefits in fiscal year 2022-23 was recorded at 37.5, with 191 children using the benefit.
According to the KIDS Count report for Jackson County, it ranked in the bottom half of counties in Tennessee for overall child well-being.
The county’s strongest area was Family & Community.
Jackson’s strongest indicator is the rate of youth crime per 1,000, where the county ranks 14th. The county also performs well in the percent of chronic absenteeism among public school students at 37th.
The county’s biggest challenge is the percent of public school kindergarteners with the full
immunization series, where it ranks 84th. There are opportunities for improvement in the percent of babies who were born at a low birthweight as well.
See future editions of this newspaper for a break-down of data relative to how the county ranked in Family and Community, Education and Health.
For more information about the TCCY, visit its website, https://www.tn.gov/tccy.
Sabrina Bates, sabrina@richardsonmediagroup.net
