Downtown Jackson
Unique experiences at bars and venues in the Social District
On the weekends in spring and summer, the neighborhood’s Downtown Jackson Social District's businesses and parks provide entertainment for varied interests. Pinball tables and game cabinets line the walls at Tilted Arcade Bar, where the most skilled players can make it onto the chalkboard of high scores. Concertgoers can enjoy shows at Weatherwax Hall, home of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and the multi-genre Music on Tap series. The Cruise-In & Concert series also happens monthly during the summertime, blending live jams from local bands with one of the city’s largest car shows. Other options for outings include axe-throwing nights at Axe Play, happy hours at Grand River Brewery and movies in an old-school cinema setting at the Michigan Theatre of Jackson. “It’s an area that’s been redeveloping itself and getting better and better,” says Valerie Stover, a lifelong resident of the Jackson area and the head broker and owner at the Val Stover Real Estate Team. Stover has sold homes in the community for more than 30 years.
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Independent shops and beloved restaurants in the Rose City
Downtown Jackson offers some of the city’s most highly regarded restaurants and bars. RJ’s Metropolitan Ice Cream Co. offers a full suite of sweet treats, but visitors can also stop by for the popular smash burgers with unlimited toppings. Ogma Brewing Company has a rotating selection of house-made craft beer and elevated pub fare, while the menu at Junk Yard Dog lives up to its name with loaded hot dogs and other American classics. Mom-and-pop shops and independent retailers are also common along the streets of the neighborhood. Clothes, home décor and miscellaneous items line the shelves at the Jackson Antique Mall, while D&D Bicycles sales fitness equipment in addition to cycling supplies and services. For 40 years, Nostalgia Ink has been a local favorite for comics, collectibles and toys. Right next door, Game Place is a go-to for tabletop game materials. Locals can buy groceries and other necessities by following Michigan Avenue west to Walmart or heading north to Kroger and other big-box options
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Traditional homes to the north and south of central Jackson
Select homes from the early to mid-20th century are available in the area, though availability can be rare. American Foursquares, older folk homes with minimal styling and other traditional properties share roads with businesses and commercial facilities. Most dwellings either have freestanding garages or rely on driveways and streetside parking, as integrated garages are rare. Prices generally range from about $90,000 to $310,000.
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Community gatherings at Horace Blackman Park
Located at the heart of the neighborhood, Horace Blackman Park is a common gathering place and social square in the city. The park hosts events such as biweekly food truck rodeos and family film screenings during the summer, while installations such as a playground and an art showcase are available year-round. Right across Jackson Street, Bucky Harris Park has a fire pit available during the winter months, along with a stage for live performances. Other neighborhood parks in the area include Austin Blair Park to the south and Nixon Park, which has a skate park and an aquatic center, to the north.
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Learning experiences at Jackson Public Schools
Public school students in downtown Jackson can attend local schools within the Jackson Public School District or other districts in the Jackson County area based on parent choice. Schools in the area include Hunt Elementary School, which has an 18:1 student-teacher ratio and a C-plus grade on Niche. Middle School at Parkside earns a C grade. Jackson High School offers college-bound students the option of enrolling in Advanced Placement classes or participating in the Jackson Area College & Career Connection program. The school earns a B-plus grade on Niche.
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The heart of the Rose City, with easy access to Lansing and Ann Arbor
With shops, dining and other points of interest close by, Downtown Jackson offers the area’s best alternatives to car-based travel. Jackson Street, Mechanic Street and a few other areas nearby offer bike lanes and trails, though cyclists will likely need to use shared roads in other parts of the neighborhood. For longer commutes and trips, Louis Glick Highway/I-94 Emergency and West Washington Avenue are Downtown Jackson’s two major thoroughfares, connecting the area to the Business 127 highway and major streets such as Michigan Avenue. The nearest hospital, Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, is about 1 mile east of the neighborhood. Jackson Station, located on the east side of the neighborhood near Michigan Avenue, connects the city to the Amtrak rail system. The Jackson Area Transit Authority transfer center near Washington Avenue and Cortland Street offers services to most of the city’s bus lines and doubles as a Greyhound station for long-distance travel. Downtown Jackson is about 35 miles west of Ann Arbor, 41 miles south of Lansing and 76 miles west of Detroit. For longer out-of-state trips, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is about 60 miles away.
Written By
Tre Lyerly
Photography Contributed By
James Gordon
Video By
Conar McDaniel
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Heather Herndon
Heather Herndon
Howard Hanna Real Estate
(517) 742-3134
795 Total Sales
8 in Downtown Jackson
$67K - $324K Price Range
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Jodi Burns-Buehrer
Jodi Burns-Buehrer
ERA REARDON REALTY, L.L.C.
(517) 768-4989
134 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Jackson
$125,000 Price
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Kirsten Knueppel-Mogle
Kirsten Knueppel-Mogle
RE/MAX Mid-Michigan
(517) 684-3016
192 Total Sales
2 in Downtown Jackson
$69K - $110K Price Range
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Doug Beiswanger
Doug Beiswanger
Coldwell Banker Beiswanger Realty Group
(517) 684-2922
506 Total Sales
8 in Downtown Jackson
$25K - $425K Price Range
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Christie Plemmons
Christie Plemmons
Christie Plemmons Realty
(517) 398-8105
287 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Jackson
$71,799 Price
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Michelle Epperly
Michelle Epperly
Responds QuicklyERA REARDON REALTY, L.L.C.
(517) 684-2902
101 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Jackson
$54,500 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Blackman Park
Bucky Harris Park
Workers Memorial Park
William J Nixon Park
Grand River Memorial Park
Withington Park
Betty's Dog Park
Governor Austin Blair Memorial Park
Downtown Jackson Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Jackson, Jackson sell after 62 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Jackson, Jackson over the last 12 months is $511,364.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$516,955
Median Sale Price
$511,364
Median Single Family Sale Price
$511,364
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
36
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$189
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
74
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Median Year Built
1920
Months of Supply
0.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,777
Below the national average
1,924
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,514
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
5,662
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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-
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$1,750 - $1,800 per month
- Lofts on Louis
- 2 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1,132 Sq Ft
- 209 W Louis Glick Hwy
- Jackson, MI
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
2,663
Median Age
43
Population Density
9 ppl/acre
Population under 18
18.4%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$18,923
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$30,465
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
77%
College Graduates
6.6%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2.5%
% Population in Labor Force
37.8%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
32''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
35''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
79
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
82
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Arts District
Quiet residential streets border Jackson's major venues and artistic soul
Bennett
Convenience at the heart of Jackson with ample shopping and dining nearby
Flat Iron
An approachable city lifestyle south of downtown Jackson
Health District
Sturdy homes walkable from Jackson’s healthcare network and downtown core
King
An evolving industrial neighborhood in the south side of Jackson
Nicholls
An easygoing lifestyle in the central west end of Jackson
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