Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 12 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
San Francisco
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $1244k less ($104,900 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1336/mo less ($980 vs $2,316)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 12 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 San Francisco by $94,496/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $94,496 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Jackson
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$1244k less
$104,900 vs $1,348,700
Jackson
Summer Heat
30.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$94,496
$136,689 vs $42,193/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 8 and San Francisco wins 12. 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 Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($42,193 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and San Francisco, CA are about 1,884 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.