Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica 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 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $1550k less ($104,900 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1247/mo less ($980 vs $2,227)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Commutes run 5 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 Santa Monica by $64,604/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.2%)
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,604 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) 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
$1550k less
$104,900 vs $1,654,800
Jackson
Summer Heat
22.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$64,604
$106,797 vs $42,193/yr
Santa Monica
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
6.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Santa Monica, 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 | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 9 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($42,193 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,635 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.