Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Long Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $605k less ($104,900 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $718/mo less ($980 vs $1,698)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $36,802/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.6%)
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,802 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$605k less
$104,900 vs $709,700
Jackson
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$36,802
$78,995 vs $42,193/yr
Long Beach
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 11 and Long Beach wins 9. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $709,700 median home), income ($42,193 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Long Beach, CA are about 1,617 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.