Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio leads 11 of 19 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
San Antonio
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$59,593 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($104,900 vs $198,000)
Rent averages $209/mo less ($980 vs $1,189)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than San Antonio
Cons
Median income trails San Antonio by $17,400/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.9%)
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Households earn $17,400 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 57°F
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$93k less
$104,900 vs $198,000
San Antonio
Median Income
$17,400
$59,593 vs $42,193/yr
San Antonio
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $198,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $59,593 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 11 of 19 categories. Jackson wins 8 and San Antonio wins 11. 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $198,000 median home), income ($42,193 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and San Antonio, TX are about 531 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.