Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Jackson
Mississippi
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
133,744
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($104,900 vs $243,400)
Rent averages $235/mo less ($980 vs $1,215)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $33,188/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.9%)
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Households earn $33,188 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$139k less
$104,900 vs $243,400
Jackson
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$33,188
$75,381 vs $42,193/yr
Sterling Heights
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 56 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 60 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 50 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Jackson wins 10 and Sterling Heights wins 10. 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 Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $243,400 median home), income ($42,193 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Sterling Heights, MI are about 811 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.