Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Erie leads 11 of 20 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5
Median Household Income
$43,135 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.8%)
Rent averages $171/mo less ($809 vs $980)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Jackson, MS
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Median Income
$942
$43,135 vs $42,193/yr
Erie
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.8% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 91.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $104,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Erie leads 11 of 20 categories. Erie 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 Erie to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $104,900 median home), income ($43,135 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Jackson, MS are about 876 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.