Living Cost Compare
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,000 in Jackson, MS versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than South Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 56% higher in South Burlington, VT. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,085
$1,557
+44% in South Burlington, VT
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,533
+88% in South Burlington, VT
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,805
+82% in South Burlington, VT
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$2,356
+110% in South Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$108,200
$399,600
+269% in South Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income
$43,238
$97,229
+125% in South Burlington, VT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,850
$60,020
+40% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
38.8 yr
+4.1 yr in South Burlington, VT
Homeownership
48.6%
60.1%
+11.5 pp in South Burlington, VT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.6%
65.1%
+36.5 pp in South Burlington, VT
Avg Commute
20.2 min
18.9 min
+1.3 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
—
239.4
Property Crime
—
4,446

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.3°F
46.0°F
+19.3°F in Jackson, MS
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
36.8 in
+17.5 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in South Burlington, VT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
24.4
+64% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$26.07
+10% in Jackson, MS

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in South Burlington, VT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in South Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Jackson, MS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in South Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in South Burlington, VT

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / VT)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
8.75%
+4.8 pp in VT

Jackson vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or South Burlington?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below South Burlington, VT's $1,790, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or South Burlington?
Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).