Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Rancho Cucamonga
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $553k less ($104,900 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $1204/mo less ($980 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $63,341/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.4%)
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,341 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Jackson
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$553k less
$104,900 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$63,341
$105,534 vs $42,193/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 8 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 12. 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 Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $657,400 median home), income ($42,193 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,581 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.