Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Jackson, MS
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
101,514
Jackson
Mississippi
10
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $106,034 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Jackson
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $533k less ($104,900 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1373/mo less ($980 vs $2,353)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $106,034/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$106,034
$148,227 vs $42,193/yr
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.3% unemployment
Jackson
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$533k less
$104,900 vs $637,400
Jackson
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Jackson, MS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $104,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $42,193 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 87.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Jackson Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 1.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 153,271 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Jackson's 90.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch to Jackson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $104,900 median home), income ($148,227 vs $42,193), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Jackson, MS are about 963 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.