Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 14 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Peoria
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($104,900 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $658/mo less ($980 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 105°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $44,566/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $44,566 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Jackson
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$279k less
$104,900 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$44,566
$86,759 vs $42,193/yr
Peoria
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 9.3% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 57 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Peoria leads 14 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 6 and Peoria wins 14. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $383,600 median home), income ($42,193 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Peoria, AZ are about 1,281 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.