JacksonMS Downtown Panorama · chmeredith from Jackson, MS, USA / CC BY 2.0Mississippi State Capitol Building (26815684617) · formulanone from Huntsville, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0Jackson December 2018 34 (Mississippi Governor's Mansion) · Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0Old Mississippi Capitol Building in Jackson Mississippi · Matt Howry from Ardmore, OK, USA / CC BY 2.0
Jackson is a mid-sized city of 153,271 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $42,193
and a 9.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Jackson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Jackson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Jackson city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.7
Jackson's overall cost of living index is 90.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Jackson costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Jackson, MS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$104,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$980
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,193
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Crime data for Jackson is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.
Schools & Education
Jackson is served primarily by Jackson Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Jackson, MS
National Avg
School District
Jackson Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
23
—
Middle Schools
7
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Jackson sees average highs of 57.4°F in January
and 92.1°F in July,
with 51.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.0 inches of snow per year.
Jackson's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Jackson roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $104,900 and median rent is $980/month.
Crime data for Jackson is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.
Public schools in Jackson are operated by Jackson Public Schools.
The district has 23 elementary, 7 middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 28.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Jackson, MS has a population of 153,271, a median household income of $42,193, and an unemployment rate of 9.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Jackson averages 57.4°F in January and 92.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.3 inches
with about 1.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Jackson, MS is covered by 14 ZIP codes: 39212, 39209, 39213, 39211, 39204, 39206, 39202, 39216, 39203, 39201, 39174, 39217, 39210, 39269.
The population of Jackson, Mississippi is 153,271 with a median age of 34.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Jackson: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $104,900, median household income $42,193, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Jackson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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