Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($104,900 vs $234,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lafayette by $16,657/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Households earn $16,657 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Jackson
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Median Home Value
$130k less
$104,900 vs $234,900
Lafayette
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$16,657
$58,850 vs $42,193/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,022 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $58,850 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 8 and Lafayette wins 12. 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $234,900 median home), income ($42,193 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Lafayette, LA are about 181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.