Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories
Albany
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Jackson
Mississippi
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Households earn $12,543 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (8.0%)
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Jackson
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($104,900 vs $213,400)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($980 vs $1,130)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Albany
Cons
Median income trails Albany by $12,543/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 8.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Income
$12,543
$54,736 vs $42,193/yr
Albany
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
8.0% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$109k less
$104,900 vs $213,400
Jackson
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Albany wins 9 and Jackson wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $104,900 median home), income ($54,736 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Jackson, MS are about 1,146 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.