Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Las Cruces, NM
🏆 Las Cruces leads 14 of 19 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Las Cruces
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.8
Median Household Income
$51,013 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
189⚠ High
Population
111,273
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($104,900 vs $197,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Las Cruces
Cons
Median income trails Las Cruces by $8,820/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 7.5%)
Las Cruces, NM
Pros
Households earn $8,820 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (7.5%)
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.8)
Smaller class sizes — 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4873.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.8 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$92k less
$104,900 vs $197,200
Las Cruces
Median Income
$8,820
$51,013 vs $42,193/yr
Las Cruces
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
7.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Las Cruces
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Las Cruces, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.8 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $197,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 | $907 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $51,013 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 207⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 189⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 232⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 11.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 36.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | LAS CRUCES |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 1.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 111,273 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Las Cruces's 93.8 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Las Cruces leads 14 of 19 categories. Jackson wins 5 and Las Cruces wins 14. 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 Las Cruces or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $197,200 median home), income ($42,193 vs $51,013), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Las Cruces, NM are about 967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.