Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 11 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Laredo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($104,900 vs $164,400)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Laredo by $18,735/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
Households earn $18,735 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Jackson
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Median Home Value
$60k less
$104,900 vs $164,400
Laredo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$18,735
$60,928 vs $42,193/yr
Laredo
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.3% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $60,928 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Laredo leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 9 and Laredo 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 Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $164,400 median home), income ($42,193 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Laredo, TX are about 645 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.