Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney leads 12 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
McKinney
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $296k less ($104,900 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $760/mo less ($980 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $71,093/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $71,093 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Jackson
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$296k less
$104,900 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$71,093
$113,286 vs $42,193/yr
McKinney
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 34 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 31 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 39 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 42.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, McKinney leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 8 and McKinney wins 12. 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 McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $400,400 median home), income ($42,193 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and McKinney, TX are about 380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.