Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 14 of 20 categories
East Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222
Jackson
Mississippi
14
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,926 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $478k less ($104,900 vs $582,400)
Rent averages $389/mo less ($980 vs $1,369)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $21,926/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$21,926
$64,119 vs $42,193/yr
East Los Angeles
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
6.3% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$478k less
$104,900 vs $582,400
Jackson
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 14 of 20 categories. East Los Angeles wins 6 and Jackson wins 14. 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 East Los Angeles to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $104,900 median home), income ($64,119 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Jackson, MS are about 1,616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.