Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 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
Norman
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($104,900 vs $224,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 50°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norman by $20,656/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.8%)
Norman, OK
Pros
Households earn $20,656 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Median Home Value
$120k less
$104,900 vs $224,900
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.7 on the COL index
Norman
Median Income
$20,656
$62,849 vs $42,193/yr
Norman
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $224,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,004 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 68 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 11 and Norman 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $224,900 median home), income ($42,193 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Norman, OK are about 457 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.