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Compare towns

Jackson vs Ridgeland

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: home values (2.5× in Ridgeland) and trails (4.4× in Jackson).

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Jackson, MSA history townMississippi · 146,631 people
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Ridgeland, MSA regional job hubMississippi · 24,587 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 $1,120 more a month in Ridgeland

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 →
Ridgeland$1,660/mo
Typical home $286K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $1,336/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,120 a month, about $13,500 a year, between Ridgeland 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

Ridgeland places higher on 15 of 22 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.

Where they are

Jackson and Ridgeland share a border

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

JacksonRidgelandJacksonRidgeland
Jackson ↔ Ridgeland8.0 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
4,247 Jackson residents work in Ridgeland (7.7% of its workers)
3,582 Ridgeland residents work in Jackson (35% of its workers)
Work & commute in Jackson →
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
JacksonRidgeland
Snow a year1″1″
January low37°F37°F
July high92°F92°F
Growing season (days)245d245d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th65th
Outdoors & history
JacksonRidgeland
Trails26 mi6 mi
Conserved land4.4%7.6%
Settled18221805
National Register places872
Archive photos24—
Famous people born here67—
Community
JacksonRidgeland
Library hours a week47 hrs52 hrs
Colleges in town41
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.

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.

JacksonRidgeland
People
Population 146,631Highest 24,587Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -11.4%Lowest +1.2%Highest
Median age 34.5±0.6Lowest 11% below MS 35.7±1.5Highest 8% below MS
Ridgeland and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 23.9%±0.9Highest MS: 23.3% 20.9%±2.3Lowest MS: 23.3%
Jackson and Ridgeland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 15%±0.7Highest MS: 17.2% 14.6%±1.6Lowest MS: 17.2%
Jackson and Ridgeland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 28.8%Lowest MS: 25.1% 51.7%Highest MS: 25.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 8.9%±0.7Highest MS: 6.1% 7.6%±1.9Lowest MS: 6.1%
Jackson and Ridgeland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $42,071±$2kLowest 25% below MS $66,038±$3kHighest 17% above MS
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $111,700±$6kLowest 34% below MS $275,200±$19kHighest 62% above MS
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,055±$23Lowest 11% above MS $1,336±$40Highest 40% above MS
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,352Lowest 11% above MS $1,909Highest 57% above MS
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 60.3%±3.7Highest MS: 51.3% 53.6%±6.7Lowest MS: 51.3%
Jackson and Ridgeland 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% 9.9%Lowest MS: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 48.6%Highest MS: 70% 47.3%Lowest MS: 70%
Typical home builtmedian year 1969Lowest 17 yrs older than MS 1991Highest 5 yrs newer than MS
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 22% below MS 21 minHighest 18% below MS
Work from home 8.9%±1.2Lowest MS: 5.9% 9%±2Highest MS: 5.9%
Ridgeland and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 45.1%Highest 17.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 6.8 miLowest 7.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.73Lowest 2.45Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Ridgeland (8%)Jackson (35%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 8% work in Ridgeland35% work in Jackson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.4%Lowest 7.6%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 26.1 miHighest 5.9 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 mi 0.2 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 22Highest 7Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 55.1Highest 44.2Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #82 of 92 in MS#57 of 92 in MS
School district Reimagine Prep · Joel E. Smilow PrepMadison County Schools
High school in town Murrah High SchoolRidgeland High School
Students per teacherat that high school 15.8Highest 12.9Lowest
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.

Ridgeland neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ridgeland’s Town Square.

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Bordering Jackson

Towns like 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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