Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 19 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($104,900 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $573/mo less ($980 vs $1,553)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $38,557/yr
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,557 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Jackson
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
$313k less
$104,900 vs $418,300
Rialto
Median Income
$38,557
$80,750 vs $42,193/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Rialto, 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 | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 6.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 19 categories. Jackson wins 11 and Rialto wins 8. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $418,300 median home), income ($42,193 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Rialto, CA are about 1,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.