City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Jackson, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 12.3% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $112,300 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA versus $1,097 in Jackson, MS. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 17% in Jackson, MS.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,070 a year in PA and $3,268 in MS.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to Jackson, MS ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −10.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.7% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- 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
| Allentown, PA | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 89.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $89,077 in Jackson | $112,263 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $42,850 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Jackson, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 64.8 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 89.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$198/yr.
100 Strong offer
Jackson, MS → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.9%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$198/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Jackson, MS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Jackson, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Jackson, MS | Real change, Allentown → Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −4.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −4.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −4.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −4.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −4.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Jackson, MS | Jackson pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $50,240 | $56,401 (−28.6%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $96,990 | $108,884 (−11.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $70,720 | $79,392 (+1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $82,630 | $92,763 (−8.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.