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Jackson vs Gulfport

147 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+19 pts in Gulfport) and home values (+56% in Gulfport).

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Jackson, MSA history townMississippi · 146,631 people
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Gulfport, MSHometown of 65 notable peopleMississippi · 73,003 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $660 more a month in Gulfport

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Jackson$540/mo
Typical home $86K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.21% · or rent about $1,055/mo · Housing →
Gulfport$1,200/mo
Typical home $206K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.72% · or rent about $1,086/mo · Housing →

The difference: $660 a month, about $8,000 a year, between Gulfport and Jackson.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Gulfport places higher on 11 of 21 MS lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Mississippi ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
JacksonGulfport
Snow a year1″0″
January low37°F44°F
July high92°F90°F
Growing season (days)245d301d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th88th
Outdoors & history
JacksonGulfport
Conserved land4.4%4.7%
Settled18221887
National Register places8716
Archive photos2417
Famous people born here6765
Community
JacksonGulfport
Library hours a week47 hrs45 hrs
Colleges in town4—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

147 miles apart

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

Jackson ↔ Gulfport147 miles apart
Who commutes between them
477 Gulfport residents work in Jackson (1.9% of its workers)
Work & commute in Gulfport →
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

JacksonGulfport
People
Population 146,631Highest 73,003Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -11.4%Lowest +7.6%Highest
Median age 34.5±0.6Lowest 11% below MS 38±1.1Highest about the MS average
Kids under 18 23.9%±0.9Highest MS: 23.3% 22.3%±1.4Lowest MS: 23.3%
Jackson and Gulfport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 15%±0.7Lowest MS: 17.2% 16.3%±1Highest MS: 17.2%
Gulfport and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 28.8%Highest MS: 25.1% 23.6%Lowest MS: 25.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 8.9%±0.7Highest MS: 6.1% 4.4%±0.7Lowest MS: 6.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $42,071±$2kLowest 25% below MS $49,919±$3kHighest 12% below MS
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $111,700±$6kLowest 34% below MS $174,600±$6kHighest about the MS average
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,055±$23Lowest 11% above MS $1,086±$36Highest 14% above MS
Gulfport and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,352Highest 11% above MS $1,253Lowest 3% above MS
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 60.3%±3.7Highest MS: 51.3% 55.1%±5.6Lowest MS: 51.3%
Jackson and Gulfport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 27.9%Highest MS: 18.9% 22.8%Lowest MS: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 48.6%Lowest MS: 70% 55.1%Highest MS: 70%
Typical home builtmedian year 1969Lowest 17 yrs older than MS 1986Highest same as MS
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 22% below MS 22 minHighest 14% below MS
Work from home 8.9%±1.2Highest MS: 5.9% 7.3%±1.2Lowest MS: 5.9%
Jackson and Gulfport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 45.1%Highest 41.5%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 6.8 miLowest 7.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.73Highest 1.53Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Ridgeland (8%)Biloxi (19%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Gulfport2% work in Jackson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.4%Lowest 4.7%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 26.1 miHighest 12.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 mi 0.2 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 22Highest 9Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 55.1Lowest 59.1Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #82 of 92 in MS#29 of 92 in MS
School district Reimagine Prep · Joel E. Smilow PrepGulfport School District · Harrison County School District
High school in town Murrah High SchoolGulfport High School
Students per teacherat that high school 15.8Highest 12.6Lowest
Mississippi average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Jackson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson’s Town Square.

Gulfport neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Gulfport’s Town Square.

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Bordering Jackson

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Mississippi towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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