Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High
Population
126,672
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,605 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($104,900 vs $242,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Athens-Clarke County
Cons
Median income trails Athens-Clarke County by $5,605/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Median Income
$5,605
$47,798 vs $42,193/yr
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$137k less
$104,900 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Athens-Clarke County 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 Athens-Clarke County to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $104,900 median home), income ($47,798 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Jackson, MS are about 412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.