Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories
Fresno
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ 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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,808 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Jackson
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($104,900 vs $321,800)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($980 vs $1,227)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 98°F
Cons
Median income trails Fresno by $20,808/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$20,808
$63,001 vs $42,193/yr
Fresno
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 92.1°F
Jackson
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$217k less
$104,900 vs $321,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 153,271 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories. Fresno 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 Fresno to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $104,900 median home), income ($63,001 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Jackson, MS are about 1,704 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.