PlainRelocate

Relocation profile · Federal data

Jackson, MS

LiveAbility 59.8/100 places Jackson #60 of 387 (top third of scored metros).

89.0
Cost index (US=100)
$1,288
2BR rent / mo
$57,904
Median salary
59.8
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, Jackson ranks #60 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (59.8/100), with its strongest marks in safety and climate.

#60
of 387 US metros · Excellent
2,943,045
metro-area population
143
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
877
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: job market (11/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.

According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Jackson ranks #60 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 89.0 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,288/mo, median salary $57,904; LiveAbility Score 59.8/100, strongest in safety and climate.

Signature: LiveAbility 59.8/100 places Jackson #60 of 387 (top third of scored metros).

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 89.0 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,288/mo.

LiveAbility 59.8/100 puts Jackson in the top third (#60 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the Jackson area is 261,190.

Jackson vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score

Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)

60 Top 16% higher than 84% of 387 US metros

Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026

Jackson housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the Jackson MSA; housing RPP 64.8 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,288/mo.

Studio
$1,091
/month
1 Bedroom
$1,097
/month
2 Bedroom
$1,288
/month
3 Bedroom
$1,544
/month
4 Bedroom
$1,705
/month

Jackson wages and employment

Jackson posts 261,190 total employment with median salary $57,904 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.

Median Salary
$57,904
Mean Salary
$61,746
Total Employment
261,190

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Retail Salespersons $29,070
Registered Nurses $82,630
Fast Food and Counter Workers $22,630
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $23,130
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,100

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the Jackson area from NCES.

Schools
877
Enrollment
436,122
Student:Teacher
13.3:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the Jackson area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$6,498
per year
Toddler (Center)
$5,956
per year
Preschool (Center)
$5,804
per year

Life Score Breakdown

Jackson's composite Life Score is 56.1/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
80/100
Elite
Wages
11/100
Bottom decile
Rent
51/100
Average
Crime
89/100
Elite
Schools
14/100
Bottom decile
Childcare
98/100
Elite
Environment
55/100
Above average

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

Jackson ranks #60 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 59.8/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Safety (89/100)

Jackson - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows Jackson's strongest dimensions are safety and climate; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 11/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare Jackson to

Fargo Farmington Fayetteville Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Flagstaff Flint

Metros near Jackson on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Jackson on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Jackson cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Jackson wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.

Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →

Thinking about Jackson?

Jackson runs a $57,904 median salary at a 89.0 cost index, ranking #60 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what Jackson's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put Jackson head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Jackson
  • Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
  • A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide

Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.