Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 14 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $43k less ($104,900 vs $147,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Springfield by $20,226/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.6%)
Springfield, IL
Pros
Households earn $20,226 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Median Home Value
$43k less
$104,900 vs $147,700
Jackson
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 85.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.7 on the COL index
Springfield
Median Income
$20,226
$62,419 vs $42,193/yr
Springfield
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $147,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Springfield leads 14 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 6 and Springfield wins 14. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $147,700 median home), income ($42,193 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Springfield, IL are about 517 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.