Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$55,051 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Jackson
Mississippi
11
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.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $12,858 more per year on average
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Jackson
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($104,900 vs $197,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 50°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Greensboro
Cons
Median income trails Greensboro by $12,858/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Median Income
$12,858
$55,051 vs $42,193/yr
Greensboro
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$92k less
$104,900 vs $197,200
Jackson
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 153,271 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.6% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Greensboro wins 9 and Jackson wins 11. 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 Greensboro to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $104,900 median home), income ($55,051 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Jackson, MS are about 648 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.