Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Jackson leads 13 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($104,900 vs $236,500)
Rent averages $422/mo less ($980 vs $1,402)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Cons
Median income trails New Haven by $12,112/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 7.8%)
New Haven, CT
Pros
Households earn $12,112 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (7.8%)
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$132k less
$104,900 vs $236,500
Jackson
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Median Income
$12,112
$54,305 vs $42,193/yr
New Haven
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
7.8% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $54,305 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 13 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 13 and New Haven wins 7. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $236,500 median home), income ($42,193 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and New Haven, CT are about 1,137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.