Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Grand Rapids
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$61,634 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Jackson
Mississippi
10
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.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Households earn $19,441 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($104,900 vs $203,900)
Rent averages $158/mo less ($980 vs $1,138)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Rapids
Cons
Median income trails Grand Rapids by $19,441/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Median Income
$19,441
$61,634 vs $42,193/yr
Grand Rapids
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$99k less
$104,900 vs $203,900
Jackson
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 153,271 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Grand Rapids wins 10 and Jackson wins 10. 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 Grand Rapids to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $104,900 median home), income ($61,634 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Jackson, MS are about 776 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.