Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe 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
Tempe
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $277k less ($104,900 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($980 vs $1,472)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $29,829/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.7%)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Households earn $29,829 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$277k less
$104,900 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$29,829
$72,022 vs $42,193/yr
Tempe
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.3% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Tempe leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 9 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $382,100 median home), income ($42,193 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Tempe, AZ are about 1,261 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.