Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo 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 Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $1404k less ($104,900 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1991/mo less ($980 vs $2,971)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 8 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 Mateo by $106,959/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $106,959 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Jackson
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$1404k less
$104,900 vs $1,508,900
Jackson
Summer Heat
19.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$106,959
$149,152 vs $42,193/yr
San Mateo
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 8 and San Mateo 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($42,193 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and San Mateo, CA are about 1,844 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.