Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Jackson leads 10 of 19 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($104,900 vs $283,300)
Rent averages $641/mo less ($980 vs $1,621)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Palm Coast by $26,631/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.1%)
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Households earn $26,631 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 57°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Jackson
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$178k less
$104,900 vs $283,300
Jackson
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 87.8°F
Palm Coast
Median Income
$26,631
$68,824 vs $42,193/yr
Palm Coast
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $283,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $68,824 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Jackson leads 10 of 19 categories. Jackson wins 10 and Palm Coast 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 Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $283,300 median home), income ($42,193 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Palm Coast, FL are about 565 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.