Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories
Aurora
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ 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.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $36,492 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($104,900 vs $409,700)
Rent averages $671/mo less ($980 vs $1,651)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $36,492/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$36,492
$78,685 vs $42,193/yr
Aurora
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$305k less
$104,900 vs $409,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 153,271 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Aurora 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 Aurora to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $104,900 median home), income ($78,685 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Jackson, MS are about 956 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.