Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Charlotte
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Jackson
Mississippi
10
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $31,877 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($104,900 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $419/mo less ($980 vs $1,399)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $31,877/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$31,877
$74,070 vs $42,193/yr
Charlotte
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$208k less
$104,900 vs $312,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 153,271 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Charlotte 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 Charlotte to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $104,900 median home), income ($74,070 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Jackson, MS are about 574 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.