Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 11 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
San Jose
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $1045k less ($104,900 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1546/mo less ($980 vs $2,526)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Commutes run 9 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 Jose by $93,817/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $93,817 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$1045k less
$104,900 vs $1,149,600
Jackson
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$93,817
$136,010 vs $42,193/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, San Jose leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 9 and San Jose 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 Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($42,193 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and San Jose, CA are about 1,817 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.