Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 19 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $833k less ($104,900 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $1270/mo less ($980 vs $2,250)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $93,415/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.7%)
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Households earn $93,415 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Jackson
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$833k less
$104,900 vs $937,700
Jackson
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$93,415
$135,608 vs $42,193/yr
Kirkland
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 16 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 37.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 19 categories. Jackson wins 11 and Kirkland 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $937,700 median home), income ($42,193 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Kirkland, WA are about 1,978 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.