Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Jackson leads 14 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $53k less ($104,900 vs $157,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 30°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Milwaukee
Cons
Median income trails Milwaukee by $7,540/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.9%)
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $7,540 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$53k less
$104,900 vs $157,800
Jackson
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Median Income
$7,540
$49,733 vs $42,193/yr
Milwaukee
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $157,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $982 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $49,733 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 14 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 14 and Milwaukee wins 6. 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $157,800 median home), income ($42,193 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Milwaukee, WI are about 753 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.