Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Jackson leads 10 of 19 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $520k less ($104,900 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $873/mo less ($980 vs $1,853)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $44,425/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.9%)
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,425 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Jackson
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$520k less
$104,900 vs $624,800
Jackson
Summer Heat
21.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$44,425
$86,618 vs $42,193/yr
Richmond
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.9% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Jackson leads 10 of 19 categories. Jackson wins 10 and Richmond wins 9. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $624,800 median home), income ($42,193 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Richmond, CA are about 1,848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.