Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 Kansas City leads 11 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Kansas City
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$65,256 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($104,900 vs $208,900)
Rent averages $151/mo less ($980 vs $1,131)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Kansas City
Cons
Median income trails Kansas City by $23,063/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.8%)
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Households earn $23,063 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$104k less
$104,900 vs $208,900
Kansas City
Median Income
$23,063
$65,256 vs $42,193/yr
Kansas City
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Kansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $208,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,131 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $65,256 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 223⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 37.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 54.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 9 and Kansas City 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 Jackson to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $208,900 median home), income ($42,193 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Kansas City, MO are about 529 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.