Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jackson, MS
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 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
Wilmington
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jackson, MS
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($104,900 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $233/mo less ($980 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Median income trails Wilmington by $16,715/yr
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Households earn $16,715 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Jackson
Key Differences at a Glance
Jackson
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Jackson
Median Home Value
$214k less
$104,900 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Median Income
$16,715
$58,908 vs $42,193/yr
Wilmington
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.9% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $104,900 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $980 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.3% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jackson Public Schools | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.0" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,271 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jackson's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Jackson is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Jackson wins 10 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($104,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($42,193 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jackson, MS and Wilmington, NC are about 724 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.