Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Amarillo, TX
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories
Amarillo
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$60,628 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
182⚠ High
Population
200,360 ✓ Larger
Jackson
Mississippi
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Amarillo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $18,435 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (690.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2655.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $68k less ($104,900 vs $172,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Amarillo by $18,435/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Amarillo
Median Income
$18,435
$60,628 vs $42,193/yr
Amarillo
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.8 on the COL index
Jackson
Median Home Value
$68k less
$104,900 vs $172,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Amarillo, TX | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,628 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 160⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AMARILLO ISD | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.7°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.2" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,360 ✓ Larger | 153,271 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Amarillo's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Amarillo 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 Amarillo to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $104,900 median home), income ($60,628 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Amarillo, TX and Jackson, MS are about 696 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.