Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 13 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Overland Park
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($104,900 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $398/mo less ($980 vs $1,378)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Overland Park
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $58,683/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Households earn $58,683 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.1 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,378/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$257k less
$104,900 vs $361,800
Jackson
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 88.2°F
Overland Park
Median Income
$58,683
$100,876 vs $42,193/yr
Overland Park
Unemployment
6.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 49 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 13 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 7 and Overland Park wins 13. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $361,800 median home), income ($42,193 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Overland Park, KS are about 519 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.