Jackson, MS vs Madison, MS
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | JacksonJackson, MS | MadisonMadison, MS | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Distressed | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Defensible | Defensible |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At $26,868 per capita, Jackson, MS and Madison, MS show stark differences across income and safety metrics in 2023 Census figures. Jackson's per-capita income is less than half of Madison's $59,346, placing Jackson in the 11th percentile and Madison in the 87th. The poverty rate in Jackson is 26.8% (94th percentile) versus 4.4% in Madison (10th percentile), a 22.4-point gap. Median household income in Jackson is $43,238 (6th percentile) compared to Madison's $120,918 (88th percentile), which is 2.8 times higher.
The cost of living index in Jackson is 68 (15th percentile), while Madison's is 140 (73rd percentile), meaning Madison is 2.1 times higher. Median home values reflect this: $108,200 in Jackson (4th percentile) versus $334,700 in Madison (61st percentile), a 3.1-fold difference. Job growth over the past year was -0.2% in Jackson (17th percentile) and +1.8% in Madison (72nd percentile), a 2.0-point difference. Violent crime rates per 100,000 people are 400 in Jackson (78th percentile) and 21 in Madison (4th percentile), with Jackson 18.9 times higher. Property crime per 100,000 is 1,515 in Jackson (58th percentile) and 378 in Madison (7th percentile), a 4.0-fold difference.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
Looking at homes in Jackson or Madison?
Get a property report for a specific address.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Madison, MS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 6815th pctl | 14073rd pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Jackson, MS 68; Madison, MS 140; Madison is 2.1 times higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $108,2004th pctl | $334,70061st pctl | Median home value: Jackson, MS $108,200; Madison, MS $334,700; Madison is 3.1 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,01833rd pctl | $1,79885th pctl | Median rent: Jackson, MS $1,018; Madison, MS $1,798; Madison is 77% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $43,2386th pctl | $120,91888th pctl | Median household income: Jackson, MS $43,238; Madison, MS $120,918; Madison is 2.8 times higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $26,5769th pctl | $65,02761st pctl | Comfortable income (single): Jackson, MS $26,576; Madison, MS $65,027; Madison is 2.4 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $39,0679th pctl | $95,58961st pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Jackson, MS $39,067; Madison, MS $95,589; Madison is 2.4 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Madison needs about
$154,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 68 vs 140). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Madison, MS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%29th pctl | 2.5%8th pctl | Unemployment: Jackson, MS 3.2%; Madison, MS 2.5%; Jackson is 0.7 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.2%17th pctl | +1.8%72nd pctl | Job growth (YoY): Jackson, MS -0.2%; Madison, MS +1.8%; Madison is 2.0 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $26,86811th pctl | $59,34687th pctl | Per-capita income: Jackson, MS $26,868; Madison, MS $59,346; Madison is 2.2 times higher. |
| Poverty rate | 26.8%94th pctl | 4.4%10th pctl | Poverty rate: Jackson, MS 26.8%; Madison, MS 4.4%; Jackson is 22.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 20.2 min28th pctl | 24.7 min59th pctl | Average commute: Jackson, MS 20.2 min; Madison, MS 24.7 min; Madison is 4 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 8.1%34th pctl | 11.6%56th pctl | Work from home: Jackson, MS 8.1%; Madison, MS 11.6%; Madison is 3.5 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Weak | Stable | Economic opportunity: Jackson, MS F; Madison, MS B-; Madison is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Madison, MS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 40078th pctl | 214th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Jackson, MS 400; Madison, MS 21; Jackson is 18.9 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,51558th pctl | 3787th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Jackson, MS 1,515; Madison, MS 378; Jackson is 4.0 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Very Safe | Crime & safety: Jackson, MS D+; Madison, MS A+; Madison is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Jackson, MS C-; Madison, MS A+; Madison is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Madison, MS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClimateClimate comfort | Sweaty | Sweaty | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Poor | Fair | Tap water: Jackson, MS F; Madison, MS C; Madison is graded higher. |
| Power grid | AverageState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AverageState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: air quality isn't available for Madison, MS; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Mississippi, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Mississippi →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Madison, MS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 1,068 mi89th pctl | 1,058 mi88th pctl | About the same |
| Target proximity | Poor | Fair | Target proximity: Jackson, MS F; Madison, MS C+; Madison is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 614 mi83rd pctl | 624 mi84th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 153 mi37th pctl | 160 mi38th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Defensible | Defensible | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Madison, MS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 149,82793rd pctl | 27,77556th pctl | Population: Jackson, MS 149,827; Madison, MS 27,775; Jackson is 5.4 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,34240th pctl | 1,10031st pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Jackson, MS 1,342; Madison, MS 1,100; Jackson is 22% higher. |
| Median age | 34.723rd pctl | 40.870th pctl | Median age: Jackson, MS 34.7; Madison, MS 40.8; Madison is 6.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6%41st pctl | 65.7%92nd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Jackson, MS 28.6%; Madison, MS 65.7%; Madison is 37.1 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.332nd pctl | 2.885th pctl | Average household size: Jackson, MS 2.3; Madison, MS 2.8; Madison is 23% larger. |
More about Jackson's residents · Madison's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Jackson and Madison
- Median rent: $1,018 in Jackson, $1,798 in Madison
- Median home value: $108,200 in Jackson, $334,700 in Madison
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 68 in Jackson, 140 in Madison
- Median household income: $43,238 in Jackson, $120,918 in Madison
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $39,067 in Jackson, $95,589 in Madison
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Jackson, 2.5% in Madison
- Average commute: 20.2 min in Jackson, 24.7 min in Madison
- Violent crime per 100k: 400 in Jackson, 21 in Madison
Weigh these by what matters to you
ReloMaps in ChatGPT can look at Jackson and Madison against your own priorities, like budget, commute or climate.
Use ReloMaps in ChatGPT →Found a home in Jackson or Madison?
A property report covers the address itself: the block, the neighbourhood data, risks and more, beyond these city-wide figures.
Free account required. Your first report is free.
Compare a different pair
More places like Jackson and Madison
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
ReloMaps may earn a commission from affiliate links at no extra cost to you.