Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 14 of 20 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Jackson
Mississippi
14
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.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $31,823 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (8.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($104,900 vs $364,700)
Rent averages $466/mo less ($980 vs $1,446)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $31,823/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 8.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$31,823
$74,016 vs $42,193/yr
Brockton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
8.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$260k less
$104,900 vs $364,700
Jackson
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 14 of 20 categories. Brockton wins 6 and Jackson wins 14. 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 Brockton to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $104,900 median home), income ($74,016 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Jackson, MS are about 1,249 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.