Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 8.5%)
Rochester, NY
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (8.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Jackson
Snowy winters — about 102" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Median Income
$1,963
$44,156 vs $42,193/yr
Rochester
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
8.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $111,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $995 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $44,156 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 8.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 11 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $111,400 median home), income ($42,193 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Rochester, NY are about 1,016 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.