Jackson, MS, known as "The City with Soul," is a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage and a strong sense of community. Located in central Mississippi, Jackson is approximately 180 miles north of New Orleans, LA, and 210 miles south of Memphis, TN. This medium-sized city is celebrated for its beautiful parks, educational institutions, and thriving arts scene.
Jackson's climate features hot, humid summers and mild winters, ideal for enjoying outdoor activities year-round. The city boasts numerous parks and recreational areas, such as the scenic LeFleur's Bluff State Park and the expansive Jackson Zoo, which offer hiking, biking, and opportunities for family picnics.
The cultural scene in Jackson is dynamic, with attractions like the Mississippi Museum of Art, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, and the historic Thalia Mara Hall. The city hosts a variety of events and festivals throughout the year, including the Jackson Rhythm and Blues Festival and the Mississippi State Fair, celebrating the community's artistic and cultural achievements.
Education is a cornerstone of the Jackson community, with institutions like Jackson State University and Millsaps College providing higher education opportunities. The city's public and private schools serve a diverse student population, making Jackson an attractive place for families. The presence of major healthcare institutions, such as the University of Mississippi Medical Center, ensures residents have access to top-notch medical care and supports a strong job market.
Living in Jackson combines the benefits of urban amenities with the charm of a close-knit community. Residents enjoy access to excellent healthcare facilities, diverse dining options, and a range of housing choices. The city's efficient public transportation system, including buses and bike lanes, makes commuting and exploring the area convenient. With its rich history, cultural vibrancy, and welcoming atmosphere, living in Jackson offers a dynamic and fulfilling experience.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Amenities
It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.
Employment
The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.
Health & Safety
Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.
Schools
Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.
Ratings
Polls and surveys done by AreaVibes among area residents did not yield positive feedback when it came to the walkability of amenities, safety, nearby parks and the overall sense of community.
Located in the state of Mississippi, Jackson is a medium-sized city with a population of 163,778 people. With a total of 82%, the Black or African American racial group makes up the majority of the population in Jackson. The next most represented races are 16% White and 0% Asian. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Jackson, only 40% of the population is married. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Jackson offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 21 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Jackson could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Mississippi if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Jackson, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, commute, education and more.
Using data and statistics Jackson has received a livability score of 63 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 54th percentile when compared to all other cities. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Jackson has higher than average grades for the following: housing (B). The bad news for Jackson, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F), education (F) and employment (F).
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Jackson apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
Assuming that Jackson meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Jackson. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Jackson are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Jackson come in at $91,400, which is 13.5% lower than the Mississippi average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Jackson, the home price to income ratio is 2.3, which is 11.5% lower than the Mississippi average.
| Statistic | Jackson | Mississippi | National |
| Average one way commute | 21min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 81.7% | 84.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 11.9% | 9.7% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.8% | 0.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.6% | 1.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.5% | 2.2% | 4.6% |
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