Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Goodyear leads 12 of 20 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
97,542
Jackson
Mississippi
8
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.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Households earn $55,114 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Jackson
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($104,900 vs $396,100)
Rent averages $731/mo less ($980 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $55,114/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Median Income
$55,114
$97,307 vs $42,193/yr
Goodyear
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 92.1°F
Jackson
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$291k less
$104,900 vs $396,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 12 of 20 categories. Goodyear 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 Goodyear to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $104,900 median home), income ($97,307 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Jackson, MS are about 1,286 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.