Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George 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
St. George
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($104,900 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $355/mo less ($980 vs $1,335)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 102°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than St. George
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails St. George by $27,140/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.3%)
St. George, UT
Pros
Households earn $27,140 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (3.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$310k less
$104,900 vs $415,200
St. George
Median Income
$27,140
$69,333 vs $42,193/yr
St. George
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
3.3% vs 9.3% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 52 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 55 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 48 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, St. George leads 12 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 8 and St. George 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $415,200 median home), income ($42,193 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and St. George, UT are about 1,364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.