Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Edinburg leads 12 of 20 categories
Edinburg
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
Jackson
Mississippi
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Households earn $11,946 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (7.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 57°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Jackson
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($104,900 vs $159,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Edinburg by $11,946/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 7.2%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Income
$11,946
$54,139 vs $42,193/yr
Edinburg
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
7.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Edinburg
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 92.1°F
Jackson
Median Home Value
$55k less
$104,900 vs $159,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 90.7 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 12 of 20 categories. Edinburg 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 Edinburg to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $104,900 median home), income ($54,139 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Jackson, MS are about 633 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.