Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 10 of 19 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($104,900 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $745/mo less ($980 vs $1,725)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $52,169/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $52,169 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$275k less
$104,900 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$52,169
$94,362 vs $42,193/yr
Richardson
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.0% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 58 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Richardson leads 10 of 19 categories. Jackson wins 9 and Richardson 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $379,800 median home), income ($42,193 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Richardson, TX are about 381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.