City comparison
Akron, OH vs Jackson, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Akron, OH are 4.9% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $104,900 in Akron, OH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,097 a month in Jackson, MS versus $985 in Akron, OH. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Jackson, MS and 15% in Akron, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,300 a year higher in Jackson, MS than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Akron, OH to Jackson, MS ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.4% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Jackson, MS: price level 89.0 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 89.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,371 in Jackson | $104,854 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $42,850 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Jackson, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 64.8 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 89.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,300/yr.
84 Strong offer
Jackson, MS → Akron, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,300/yr.
54 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Jackson, MS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Jackson, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Jackson, MS | Real change, Akron → Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | +0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | +0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | +0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | +0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | +0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Jackson, MS | Jackson pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $50,240 | $52,678 (−32.9%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $96,990 | $101,697 (−3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $70,720 | $74,152 (−5.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $82,630 | $86,640 (+7.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.