Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($104,900 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $420/mo less ($980 vs $1,400)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Midland
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $48,255/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.2%)
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $48,255 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$176k less
$104,900 vs $280,700
Midland
Median Income
$48,255
$90,448 vs $42,193/yr
Midland
Unemployment
6.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $280,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 88 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 11 and Midland 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $280,700 median home), income ($42,193 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Midland, TX are about 696 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.