Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Cary leads 11 of 20 categories
Cary
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Jackson
Mississippi
9
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $83,124 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $373k less ($104,900 vs $477,400)
Rent averages $558/mo less ($980 vs $1,538)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Cary
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $83,124/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$83,124
$125,317 vs $42,193/yr
Cary
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$373k less
$104,900 vs $477,400
Jackson
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 89.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 ✓ Larger | 153,271 |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Cary leads 11 of 20 categories. Cary wins 11 and Jackson wins 9. 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 Cary to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $104,900 median home), income ($125,317 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Jackson, MS are about 694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.