Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 15 of 20 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
125,292
Jackson
Mississippi
15
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.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Households earn $10,256 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $64k less ($104,900 vs $168,800)
Rent averages $222/mo less ($980 vs $1,202)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Allentown by $10,256/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Median Income
$10,256
$52,449 vs $42,193/yr
Jackson
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$64k less
$104,900 vs $168,800
Jackson
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 15 of 20 categories. Allentown wins 5 and Jackson wins 15. 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 Allentown to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $104,900 median home), income ($52,449 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Jackson, MS are about 997 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.