Jackson vs Memphis
Compare Jackson, TN and Memphis, TN on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Jackson is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $903/mo versus $1,091/mo in Memphis — a gap of about $188/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,138/mo against $1,298/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (231 vs 240 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 91°F and 90°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Jackson; if walkable daily life matters more, Memphis screens stronger on the walkability proxy (10 vs 4). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Jackson leads 81 to 76 on the cost and climate screen.
Jackson leads 76 to 73 on the work screen.
Memphis leads 40 to 34 on the daily life screen.
Memphis leads 51 to 40 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Jackson is roughly $42,500 in Memphis using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Jackson | Memphis | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $903/mo | $1,091/mo | Jackson |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,138/mo | $1,298/mo | Jackson |
| Median home value | $152,000 | $208,000 | Jackson |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 26.2 min | Jackson |
| Safety score | 27/100 | 33/100 | Memphis |
| School score | 4/10 | 5/10 | Memphis |
| Walkability estimate | 4/100 | 10/100 | Memphis |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 6/10 | Memphis |
| Restaurants per 100k | 172.9 | 166.9 | Jackson |
| Mountain distance | 42 mi | 8 mi | Memphis |
| Coast distance | 341 mi | 328 mi | Memphis |
What stands out
Jackson stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 127 miles
- Mountain access within 42 miles
Jackson tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Memphis stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Trail access within 49 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 127 miles
Memphis tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Jackson cheaper than Memphis?
On public benchmarks Jackson is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $903/mo in Jackson vs $1,091/mo in Memphis; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,138/mo vs $1,298/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Jackson or Memphis safer?
Memphis screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 27/100 for Jackson and 33/100 for Memphis (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Jackson or Memphis?
School screens show 4/10 for Jackson vs 5/10 for Memphis, 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 Jackson and Memphis?
Jackson: summer highs near 91°F, winter lows near 28°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Memphis: 90°F / 29°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (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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