Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos 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 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $624k less ($104,900 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $1084/mo less ($980 vs $2,064)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Commutes run 6 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 Marcos by $57,220/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,220 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Jackson
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$624k less
$104,900 vs $728,800
Jackson
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$57,220
$99,413 vs $42,193/yr
San Marcos
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 31 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 8 and San Marcos 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 Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $728,800 median home), income ($42,193 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and San Marcos, CA are about 1,564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.