Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Columbia leads 11 of 20 categories
Columbia
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Jackson
Mississippi
9
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.
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $82,344 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Jackson
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $354k less ($104,900 vs $458,700)
Rent averages $915/mo less ($980 vs $1,895)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbia
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $82,344/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Median Income
$82,344
$124,537 vs $42,193/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
4.0% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$354k less
$104,900 vs $458,700
Jackson
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Columbia leads 11 of 20 categories. Columbia 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 Columbia to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $104,900 median home), income ($124,537 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and Jackson, MS are about 886 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.