Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories
Columbus
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Jackson
Mississippi
12
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Households earn $20,801 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($104,900 vs $212,500)
Rent averages $181/mo less ($980 vs $1,161)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbus
Cons
Median income trails Columbus by $20,801/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$20,801
$62,994 vs $42,193/yr
Columbus
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$108k less
$104,900 vs $212,500
Jackson
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 153,271 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories. Columbus wins 8 and Jackson wins 12. 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 Columbus to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $104,900 median home), income ($62,994 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Jackson, MS are about 665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.