Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
95,103
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($104,900 vs $247,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Lawrence by $17,641/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.2%)
Lawrence, KS
Pros
Households earn $17,641 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Median Home Value
$142k less
$104,900 vs $247,300
Jackson
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 88.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.7 on the COL index
Lawrence
Median Income
$17,641
$59,834 vs $42,193/yr
Lawrence
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 12 and Lawrence 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 Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $247,300 median home), income ($42,193 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Lawrence, KS are about 539 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.