Is Jackson cheaper than Winston-Salem?

Jackson is cheaper: its overall cost of living runs about 3% below Winston-Salem's (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Which has higher household income, Jackson or Winston-Salem?

Household incomes are similar — $64,835 in the Jackson metro versus $65,903 in Winston-Salem (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).

Does a paycheck go further in Jackson or Winston-Salem?

It is roughly a wash. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck is worth about the same in both metros ($72,809 versus $71,600).

Which has cheaper rent, Jackson or Winston-Salem?

Rents are close — $1,100/mo in the Jackson metro versus $1,102/mo in Winston-Salem (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).

Jackson vs Winston-Salem

Metro-area medians — Jackson, MS Metro Area vs Winston-Salem, NC Metro Area — not the cities proper.

Jackson and Winston-Salem are evenly matched, each taking 3 of the clearly-decided measures.

Jackson costs about 3% less to live in, and household incomes are similar. Adjusted for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches about as far in either.

For your salary & household

Enter your pay and household size to see what it's really worth here — the numbers update live and the link stays shareable.

Annual salary (gross)

Household size

Jackson, MS

$58,555

take-home / yr · 22% to tax

$65,756

real value after local prices

Winston-Salem, NC

$58,668

take-home / yr · 22% to tax

$63,740

real value after local prices

On $75,000 for just you, Jackson leaves you about $2,017/yr better off after tax and local prices.

Take-home estimates a single filer taking the standard deduction (2025 federal brackets, FICA, and state income tax) and isn't tax advice. “Real value” rebases take-home to average U.S. prices using the BEA cost-of-living index; the per-person figure uses the OECD square-root equivalence scale.

Measure

Jackson

Winston-Salem

Livability (CityLedger)

39/100

46/100

Cost of living (price level, US = 100)

89.0

92.0

Cost-adjusted income (pay's real value)

$72,809

$71,600

Median household income

$64,835

$65,903

Median rent

$1,100/mo

$1,102/mo

Median home value

$210,000

$270,700

Unemployment

4.8%

3.4%

Bachelor's degree or higher

32.5%

33.4%

Average commute

24.9 min

23.8 min

Air quality (median AQI)

Avg temperature

66°F

60°F

Choose Jackson for

+ Cost of living (price level, US = 100)
+ Median home value
+ Air quality (median AQI)

Full Jackson profile →

Choose Winston-Salem for

+ Livability (CityLedger)
+ Unemployment
+ Average commute

Full Winston-Salem profile →

Jackson vs Winston-Salem — frequently asked

Is Jackson cheaper than Winston-Salem?: Jackson is cheaper: its overall cost of living runs about 3% below Winston-Salem's (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Which has higher household income, Jackson or Winston-Salem?: Household incomes are similar — $64,835 in the Jackson metro versus $65,903 in Winston-Salem (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).
Does a paycheck go further in Jackson or Winston-Salem?: It is roughly a wash. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck is worth about the same in both metros ($72,809 versus $71,600).
Which has cheaper rent, Jackson or Winston-Salem?: Rents are close — $1,100/mo in the Jackson metro versus $1,102/mo in Winston-Salem (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).