Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Carrollton leads 12 of 20 categories
Carrollton
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
132,284
Jackson
Mississippi
8
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $53,187 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $222k less ($104,900 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $575/mo less ($980 vs $1,555)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $53,187/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$53,187
$95,380 vs $42,193/yr
Carrollton
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$222k less
$104,900 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 12 of 20 categories. Carrollton wins 12 and Jackson wins 8. 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 Carrollton to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $104,900 median home), income ($95,380 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Jackson, MS are about 392 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.