Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 11 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $877k less ($104,900 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1120/mo less ($980 vs $2,100)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
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 Pasadena by $55,625/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,625 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$877k less
$104,900 vs $981,600
Jackson
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$55,625
$97,818 vs $42,193/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 9 and Pasadena wins 11. 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $981,600 median home), income ($42,193 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Pasadena, CA are about 1,614 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.