Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Killeen
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($104,900 vs $175,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (9.3%)
Rent averages $104/mo less ($980 vs $1,084)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Killeen by $14,893/yr
Killeen, TX
Pros
Households earn $14,893 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 9.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 91.8 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$71k less
$104,900 vs $175,400
Jackson
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
9.3% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Median Income
$14,893
$57,086 vs $42,193/yr
Killeen
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 91.8 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $175,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,084 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $57,086 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 36.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 153,708 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 46.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 12 and Killeen wins 8. 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 Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $175,400 median home), income ($42,193 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Killeen, TX are about 450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.