Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($104,900 vs $215,500)
Rent averages $270/mo less ($980 vs $1,250)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 42°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Philadelphia by $15,344/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 8.6%)
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Households earn $15,344 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (8.6%)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Jackson
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$111k less
$104,900 vs $215,500
Philadelphia
Median Income
$15,344
$57,537 vs $42,193/yr
Philadelphia
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
8.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $57,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 50.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 12 and Philadelphia wins 8. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $215,500 median home), income ($42,193 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Philadelphia, PA are about 993 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.