Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 13 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271
St. Petersburg
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($104,900 vs $289,000)
Rent averages $430/mo less ($980 vs $1,410)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Commutes run 4 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 St. Petersburg by $28,140/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.6%)
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Households earn $28,140 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Jackson
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$184k less
$104,900 vs $289,000
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$28,140
$70,333 vs $42,193/yr
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 117⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 13 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 7 and St. Petersburg wins 13. 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. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $289,000 median home), income ($42,193 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and St. Petersburg, FL are about 551 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.