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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Mississippi is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Jackson leads at an index of 75 with rent at just $1,283/month — 32% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
#1 Ranked: Jackson — cost index 75, rent $1,283/mo, income $43,238
1 of 1 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Mississippi is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Jackson leads at an index of 75 with rent at just $1,283/month — 32% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Jackson (index 75, rent $1,283). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Jackson earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And depending on your situation, the 75 cost index sits 36 points below the national baseline, and the $43,238 — and yes, that's adjusted for the region — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $86,017 — $381,353 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 75, while Healthcare trails at 95 (we double-checked this one).
Bottom line: Jackson leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. It lines up with what you'd expect. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers (that's pre-tax, of course).
143,709 residents · Mississippi
Here's Jackson by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 75. Rent: $1,283/month. Income: $43,238/year. Home price: $86,017. Population: 143,709. The strongest category is Housing at 75; the most expensive is Healthcare at 95. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,344 per year vs. the national median. That's the sort of advantage that turns renters into homeowners.
Cities are ranked by median household income using Census ACS data. Income alone doesn't tell the full story — we also show cost of living index so you can gauge real purchasing power in each city across Mississippi. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Jackson ranks #1 in Mississippi for this analysis with a cost index of 75 and median income of $43,238.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Jackson is $1,283/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $612 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Jackson is $86,017, which is 2.0× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Mississippi has a 5% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.07%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.63%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.