Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories
Jackson
Mississippi
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,193
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
153,271 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($104,900 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $752/mo less ($980 vs $1,732)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $48,458/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $48,458 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Jackson
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$362k less
$104,900 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$48,458
$90,651 vs $42,193/yr
Westminster
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 80 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Jackson leads 11 of 20 categories. Jackson wins 11 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $467,200 median home), income ($42,193 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Westminster, CO are about 978 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.