Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Centennial
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
107,702
Jackson
Mississippi
10
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $82,424 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Jackson
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $482k less ($104,900 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $969/mo less ($980 vs $1,949)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $82,424/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$82,424
$124,617 vs $42,193/yr
Centennial
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$482k less
$104,900 vs $586,500
Jackson
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial'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, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Centennial wins 10 and Jackson wins 10. 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 Centennial to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $104,900 median home), income ($124,617 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Jackson, MS are about 960 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.