Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Nashua, NH
🏆 Nashua leads 11 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Nashua
New Hampshire
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42
Population
90,943
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($104,900 vs $344,900)
Rent averages $617/mo less ($980 vs $1,597)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashua
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 35°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Nashua by $46,573/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.1%)
Nashua, NH
Pros
Households earn $46,573 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $344,900
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Jackson
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 106.1 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$240k less
$104,900 vs $344,900
Jackson
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 84.7°F
Nashua
Median Income
$46,573
$88,766 vs $42,193/yr
Nashua
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.1% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Nashua, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 106.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $344,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $88,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 49 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 42 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 60 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 40.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Nashua School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 52.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 90,943 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Nashua's 106.1 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Nashua leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 9 and Nashua wins 11. 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 Nashua or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $344,900 median home), income ($42,193 vs $88,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Nashua, NH are about 1,249 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.