Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Jackson
Mississippi
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Orlando
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($104,900 vs $332,700)
Rent averages $529/mo less ($980 vs $1,509)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Orlando
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orlando by $24,099/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.2%)
Orlando, FL
Pros
Households earn $24,099 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$228k less
$104,900 vs $332,700
Orlando
Median Income
$24,099
$66,292 vs $42,193/yr
Orlando
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 101.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,509⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $66,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 192⚠ 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 | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Jackson wins 10 and Orlando wins 10. 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $332,700 median home), income ($42,193 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Orlando, FL are about 598 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.