Jackson, MS vs Portage, IN
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Jackson
81.4
#42 nationally
Portage
71.1
#1027 nationally
Portage leads in median household income ($71,317 vs $42,193). Jackson leads in average commute (20.3 min vs 28.7 min). Portage leads in crime level (6.4 vs 8.1).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Jackson, MS | Portage, IN |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 81.4 (#42) | 71.1 (#1027) |
| Population | 143,709 | 38,513 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $84,299 | $269,590 |
| Median Household Income | $42,193 | $71,317 |
| Average Commute | 20.3 min | 28.7 min |
| Walk Score | 26 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 8.1 | 6.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 85 | 94 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+46.1 | R+10.5 |
Data coverage note: Portage is missing data for 1 metric that Jackson has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
B-
81.4 Score
Jackson, MS
Mid-size Mississippi city with community character
Median Home
$84,299
Population
143,709
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
26
Southeast
View Jackson, MS →
C-
71.1 Score
Portage, IN
Small Indiana city with local appeal
Median Home
$269,590
Population
38,513
Crime
Moderate
Median Income
$71,317
Midwest
View Portage, IN →