Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 Jackson leads 18 of 20 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Jackson
Mississippi
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 9.3%)
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $94k less ($104,900 vs $198,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (9.3%)
Rent averages $174/mo less ($980 vs $1,154)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$94k less
$104,900 vs $198,900
Jackson
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
9.3% vs 10.6% unemployment
Jackson
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $42,193 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 9.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 18 of 20 categories. Hartford wins 2 and Jackson wins 18. 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 Hartford to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $104,900 median home), income ($41,841 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Jackson, MS are about 1,163 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.