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Buying a home in Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson median home value: $110,200 (Census ACS 2024). MHC down payment help runs $7,000 to $25,000 in Hinds County. 18 FEMA storm declarations.

In short

The median value of owner-occupied homes in Jackson is $110,200 (Census ACS 2024; owner estimates, not sale prices). The FHFA House Price Index shows Mississippi prices up 0.5% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026. The Jackson metro area rose 1.8% on a different FHFA series. Mississippi has no real estate transfer tax. Selling a main home you owned and lived in for 2 of the last 5 years, the first $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly) is excluded from federal income tax (IRS Publication 523).

Calculate for Jackson

If you buy

Mississippi state transfer tax

Mississippi has no real estate transfer tax. Change the price: the amount is recalculated instantly.

Price$110,200
State transfer tax$0
Share of the price—

Default price: the Jackson median value of owner-occupied homes, $110,200 (Census ACS 2024). Rule: No tax is calculated on the price. The recording fee depends on page count. Who pays: Nobody pays a transfer tax. The sources do not assign the recording fees to buyer or seller; the purchase contract does. Not included: county and city transfer taxes, recording fees, title insurance and lender charges. Mississippi transfer tax guide · all 50 states.

If you sell

Capital gain and the federal tax on it

Same federal rule in every state: Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code excludes up to $250,000 of gain on a main home ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly).

Capital gain$350,000
Section 121 exclusion$250,000 (limit $250,000)
Taxable gain$100,000
Type of gainLong-term (owned over 1 year), 15% chosen
Federal tax on the gain$15,000

Section 121 excludes $250,000; the rest is taxable.

Gain = sale price minus your adjusted basis (purchase price, buying costs and improvements); selling expenses reduce it (IRS Publication 523). Long-term rates for sales in 2026, by taxable income including the gain (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, section 4.03): 0% up to $49,450 single or $98,900 married filing jointly, 15% up to $545,500 single or $613,700 jointly, 20% above. Not included: Mississippi state income tax on the gain (not computed), the net investment income tax, depreciation recapture on a rental or home office, and the reduced exclusion for an early sale. Agent commissions are negotiated and never set by law. Capital gains on a home sale.

In short

The median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Jackson is $110,200, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, against $186,500 for Mississippi. In Hinds County, the Mississippi Home Corporation offers down payment help from $7,000 (Smart7) to up to $25,000 (Home4All). FEMA lists 18 major disaster declarations for Hinds County since 1969.

How much homes cost in Jackson

The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) asks owners how much they think their home would sell for. The median of those answers is a useful benchmark, but it is not a sale price: it covers every owner-occupied home, including homes bought long ago. Our page on Mississippi home prices explains the method in detail.

AreaMedian value, 2024 (ACS)Margin of error (90%)
City of Jackson$110,200±$10,065
Hinds County$163,300±$12,217
Jackson, MS metro area$210,000±$8,763
Mississippi$186,500±$3,787
United States$360,600±$618

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024, table B25077. The 2025 estimates are scheduled for October 29, 2026.

Are Jackson prices rising?

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) tracks repeat sales of the same single-family homes. It does not publish a purchase-only index for the Jackson metro area, so the figure below comes from its all-transactions index (not seasonally adjusted), published August 25, 2026. It compares the same quarter in each year.

Area1-year change (Q2 2025 to Q2 2026)5-year change (Q2 2021 to Q2 2026)
Jackson, MS metro area (all-transactions)+1.8%+29.3%

Source: FHFA House Price Index, quarterly metro file. Changes calculated by Payotte from the published index values.

Prices in the Jackson area rose slightly over the past year, after a gain of about 29% over five years. The state purchase-only figures are on our Mississippi home prices page.

Help to buy in Jackson

The Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC) is the state’s housing finance agency. Its programs work through participating lenders, and all require a homebuyer education class. For Hinds County, MHC’s income table lists a limit of $91,400 to $109,680 for one or two people, depending on whether the address is in a target area, and the Home4All program allows up to $25,000 of assistance for households under 80% of area median income. Full tables are on our page on first-time buyer programs in Mississippi.

The City of Jackson’s housing page lists no down payment program. It states that the City “does not maintain eligibility authority or administer housing programs managed by external agencies.” Ask your lender which programs apply to your address.

Closing costs and taxes

On top of the price, buyers and sellers pay closing costs: lender fees, the appraisal, the survey, recording fees and title insurance. Several depend on the loan and on the providers you choose, so there is no single official figure. For the rules, who usually pays each item and a worked example, see our guide to closing costs in Mississippi. Transfer tax rules are on our Mississippi transfer tax page and property tax rules on our Mississippi property tax page. We do not give a Jackson tax rate here; check those pages and your county tax bill.

Storms and flood risk

Jackson is inland, but FEMA’s records, read October 13, 2026, list 18 major disaster declarations for Hinds County since Hurricane Camille in 1969. Six are for hurricanes (the latest is Ida, declared in October 2021), nine for severe storms, tornadoes or flooding (the latest declared June 10, 2024), two for winter storms (the latest declared February 6, 2026) and one for COVID-19.

Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood. FloodSmart.gov says that in communities that take part in the NFIP, flood insurance is mandatory for federally backed mortgages in zones A and V. To find a home’s zone, search its address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. The coast’s wind insurer of last resort does not serve Hinds County; see natural hazards and insurance in Mississippi.

Mississippi guides for Jackson buyers

Frequently asked questions

What is the median home price in Jackson, Mississippi?

The Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Jackson at $110,200 (±$10,065). This is what owners think their home is worth, not the median sale price of recent sales.

Are home prices in Jackson going up?

FHFA’s all-transactions index for the Jackson metro area rose 1.8% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, and 29.3% over five years.

Is there down payment help in Jackson?

Yes, through the Mississippi Home Corporation: Smart7 ($7,000), Easy8 ($8,000), Trusty10 ($10,000) and Home4All (up to $25,000), subject to limits. The City of Jackson’s housing page lists no program of its own.

Does Jackson have a high flood or storm risk?

FEMA lists 18 major disaster declarations for Hinds County since 1969, mostly for storms, tornadoes, floods and hurricanes. Check the FEMA flood zone of any home you consider.

What is the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association?

A state-regulated insurer of last resort for wind and hail in six coastal counties. Hinds County, where Jackson sits, is not among them.

More Mississippi guides

Sources

Professionals by sector of Jackson

Who licenses each trade in Mississippi

Mississippi · All states · Federal guides