Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Jackson
Mississippi
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Salem
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($104,900 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $244/mo less ($980 vs $1,224)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $25,347/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.1%)
Salem, OR
Pros
Households earn $25,347 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (6.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$245k less
$104,900 vs $349,500
Jackson
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Median Income
$25,347
$67,540 vs $42,193/yr
Salem
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Jackson wins 10 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $349,500 median home), income ($42,193 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Salem, OR are about 1,956 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.