Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Jackson leads 12 of 19 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Knoxville
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$48,309 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($104,900 vs $184,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Knoxville
Cons
Median income trails Knoxville by $6,116/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.8%)
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $6,116 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$79k less
$104,900 vs $184,200
Jackson
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 88.3°F
Knoxville
Median Income
$6,116
$48,309 vs $42,193/yr
Knoxville
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 92.8 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $184,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,043 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $48,309 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Jackson leads 12 of 19 categories. Jackson wins 12 and Knoxville wins 7. 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $184,200 median home), income ($42,193 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Knoxville, TN are about 438 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.