HEAD TO HEAD
Jackson vs Meridian
Jackson and Meridian split the factors 2–2 — it comes down to which ones you weight.
Jackson, MS
wins 2 of 5 factors
Meridian, MS
wins 2 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Jackson | Meridian |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 93 | 99 ◆ |
| Affordable to rent | 78 | 82 ◆ |
| Climate comfort | 88 | 88 |
| Plenty of sunshine | 61 ◆ | 59 |
| Big-city amenities | 76 ◆ | 4 |
By the numbers
| Figure | Jackson | Meridian |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $215K | $125K |
| Typical rent | $1,450/mo | $1,355/mo |
| Average temperature | 18°C | 17.9°C |
| Sunshine (solar) | 4.64 kWh/m²/day | 4.58 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank | #98 | #397 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.