Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Jackson leads 15 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$42,852 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (9.3%)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Reading, PA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 9.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
9.3% vs 11.3% unemployment
Jackson
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Median Income
$659
$42,852 vs $42,193/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $42,852 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 15 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 15 and Reading wins 5. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $96,900 median home), income ($42,193 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Reading, PA are about 967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.