Gulfport vs Jackson
Compare Gulfport, MS and Jackson, MS on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,010/mo in Gulfport and $1,012/mo in Jackson, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,151/mo and $1,159/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (243 vs 236 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 91°F and 92°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Gulfport; if walkable daily life matters more, Gulfport screens stronger on the walkability proxy (5 vs 2). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Gulfport leads 41 to 29 on the daily life screen.
Jackson leads 60 to 54 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Gulfport is roughly $85,000 in Jackson using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Gulfport | Jackson | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,010/mo | $1,012/mo | Gulfport |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,151/mo | $1,159/mo | Gulfport |
| Median home value | $176,000 | $176,000 | Tie |
| State income tax | 4% | 4% | Tie |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 26.8 min | Jackson |
| Safety score | 62/100 | 60/100 | Gulfport |
| School score | 4/10 | 6/10 | Jackson |
| Walkability estimate | 5/100 | 2/100 | Gulfport |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 5/10 | Gulfport |
| Restaurants per 100k | 190.2 | 185.7 | Gulfport |
| Mountain distance | 171 mi | 121 mi | Jackson |
| Coast distance | 8 mi | 134 mi | Gulfport |
What stands out
Gulfport stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Named beach within 33 miles
- Coast access within 8 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Gulfport tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Jackson stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Jackson tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Common questions
Is Gulfport cheaper than Jackson?
On public benchmarks Gulfport is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,010/mo in Gulfport vs $1,012/mo in Jackson; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,151/mo vs $1,159/mo; state income tax is 4% vs 4%.
Is Gulfport or Jackson safer?
Gulfport screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 62/100 for Gulfport and 60/100 for Jackson (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Gulfport or Jackson?
School screens show 4/10 for Gulfport vs 6/10 for Jackson, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Gulfport and Jackson?
Gulfport: summer highs near 91°F, winter lows near 40°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Jackson: 92°F / 33°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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