Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Chesapeake leads 12 of 20 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Jackson
Mississippi
8
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.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
Households earn $50,510 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($104,900 vs $339,500)
Rent averages $466/mo less ($980 vs $1,446)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Chesapeake
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $50,510/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$50,510
$92,703 vs $42,193/yr
Chesapeake
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$235k less
$104,900 vs $339,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" | 51.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 153,271 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 12 of 20 categories. Chesapeake 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 Chesapeake to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $104,900 median home), income ($92,703 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Jackson, MS are about 847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.