Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 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
Minneapolis
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($104,900 vs $328,700)
Rent averages $287/mo less ($980 vs $1,267)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 22°F
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $34,139/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.8%)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $34,139 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Jackson
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$224k less
$104,900 vs $328,700
Jackson
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$34,139
$76,332 vs $42,193/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 11 and Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $328,700 median home), income ($42,193 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Minneapolis, MN are about 889 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.