Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Jackson
Mississippi
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Raleigh
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($104,900 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $391/mo less ($980 vs $1,371)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $36,438/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $36,438 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$242k less
$104,900 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$36,438
$78,631 vs $42,193/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Jackson wins 10 and Raleigh wins 10. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $347,000 median home), income ($42,193 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Raleigh, NC are about 705 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.