Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Jackson leads 10 of 19 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($104,900 vs $228,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tuscaloosa by $5,064/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 6.8%)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.8%)
Households earn $5,064 more per year on average
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Median Home Value
$123k less
$104,900 vs $228,300
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 90.7 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Income
$5,064
$47,257 vs $42,193/yr
Tuscaloosa
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.8% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $228,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 | $980 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $47,257 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Jackson leads 10 of 19 categories. Jackson wins 10 and Tuscaloosa wins 9. 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 Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $228,300 median home), income ($42,193 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.