Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 11 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($104,900 vs $343,000)
Rent averages $298/mo less ($980 vs $1,278)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Redding by $25,130/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.9%)
Redding, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,130 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Jackson
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$238k less
$104,900 vs $343,000
Redding
Median Income
$25,130
$67,323 vs $42,193/yr
Redding
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.3% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Redding leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 9 and Redding wins 11. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $343,000 median home), income ($42,193 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Redding, CA are about 1,864 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.