Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
Santa Ana
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $519k less ($104,900 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $905/mo less ($980 vs $1,885)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $42,017/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.5%)
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,017 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$519k less
$104,900 vs $624,000
Jackson
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$42,017
$84,210 vs $42,193/yr
Santa Ana
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 12 and Santa Ana wins 8. 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 Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $624,000 median home), income ($42,193 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,601 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.