Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 10 of 19 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Lincoln
Nebraska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($104,900 vs $230,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Lincoln by $25,653/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.3%)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Households earn $25,653 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (3.3%)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$126k less
$104,900 vs $230,400
Lincoln
Median Income
$25,653
$67,846 vs $42,193/yr
Lincoln
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 92.0 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $230,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $998 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 92 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 10 of 19 categories. Jackson wins 9 and Lincoln wins 10. 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 Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $230,400 median home), income ($42,193 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Lincoln, NE are about 687 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.