Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $287k less ($104,900 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $109/mo less ($980 vs $1,089)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 41°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Provo by $15,750/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $15,750 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$287k less
$104,900 vs $391,500
Provo
Median Income
$15,750
$57,943 vs $42,193/yr
Provo
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 9.3% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 57 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 54 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 11 and Provo 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $391,500 median home), income ($42,193 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Provo, UT are about 1,309 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.