Moving to Massachusetts from Mississippi

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Mississippi to Massachusetts? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Mississippi to Massachusetts, you would find that Massachusetts is 43.2% more expensive than Mississippi. A $75,000 salary in Mississippi would need to be roughly $107,192 in Massachusetts to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Boston averages 59°F vs 76°F in Jackson, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Mississippi and Massachusetts.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 $107,192

To maintain the same standard of living in Massachusetts

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 33.8% more

Groceries

pay 25.9% more

Transportation

pay 23.6% more

Housing

pay 57.5% more

Childcare

pay 2.0 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 51.3% more

See full cost of living breakdown

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Massachusetts compared to Mississippi.

Is it safe?

Violent crime rate FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023

incidents per 100,000 people per year

MS
202
MA
308
Property crime rate FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023

incidents per 100,000 people per year

MS
1579
MA
1077

Mississippi generally does better on safety, though Massachusetts leads in property crime rate.

How's the healthcare?

Uninsured rate US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of people without health insurance

MS
11.3%
MA
2.6%
Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MS
41.9%
MA
28.8%

Massachusetts performs significantly better than Mississippi across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What about housing?

Median home value US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

typical price of a home

MS
$161,400
MA
$525,800
Median rent US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

typical monthly gross rent

MS
$923
MA
$1,687

Mississippi performs better than Massachusetts across all what about housing? metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MS
82.0%
MA
91.9%
Average commute US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

minutes each way to work

MS
26 min
MA
29 min

Mississippi generally does better on infrastructure, though Massachusetts leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MS
3.1%
MA
4.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MS
$41,778
MA
$87,892

Massachusetts generally does better on employment & economy, though Mississippi leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2020

average years of life at birth

MS
71.9 yrs
MA
79.0 yrs
Bachelor's degree or higher US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of adults with a 4-year college degree

MS
16%
MA
32%

Massachusetts performs significantly better than Mississippi across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Jackson Rain: 54.3 in/yr (1380 mm)
76° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Boston Rain: 43.8 in/yr (1112 mm)
59° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jackson Boston
Jan–Mar 62°/41°F (17°/5°C) 40°/26°F (4°/-3°C)
Apr–Jun 83°/62°F (28°/17°C) 66°/50°F (19°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/70°F (32°/21°C) 78°/62°F (25°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/46°F (20°/8°C) 51°/38°F (11°/3°C)
View all months
Month Jackson Boston
Jan 56°/37°F (13.6°/2.7°C) 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.4°C)
Feb 61°/40°F (16.1°/4.6°C) 39°/25°F (3.7°/-4.1°C)
Mar 68°/47°F (20.2°/8.2°C) 45°/31°F (7.4°/-0.5°C)
Apr 76°/54°F (24.4°/12.1°C) 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C)
May 83°/63°F (28.3°/17.1°C) 66°/50°F (18.9°/9.9°C)
Jun 89°/69°F (31.8°/20.8°C) 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.3°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.4°C) 81°/65°F (27.4°/18.6°C)
Aug 92°/72°F (33.1°/22.2°C) 80°/65°F (26.4°/18.1°C)
Sep 87°/66°F (30.3°/18.9°C) 72°/57°F (22.4°/14.1°C)
Oct 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.8°C) 61°/47°F (16.3°/8.1°C)
Nov 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) 51°/38°F (10.8°/3.3°C)
Dec 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) 41°/28°F (5.1°/-2.1°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Massachusetts than Mississippi?

On average Massachusetts is around 43% pricier than Mississippi, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Massachusetts?

Budget about $26,798 for 3 months in Massachusetts (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit.

Is Massachusetts safe?

Mississippi generally does better on safety, though Massachusetts leads in property crime rate.

How is healthcare in Massachusetts compared to Mississippi?

Massachusetts performs significantly better than Mississippi across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Massachusetts compared to Mississippi?

The average high temperature in Boston is 59°F, compared to 76°F in Jackson. Boston receives around 43.8 in of rainfall per year, while Jackson gets 54.3 in.

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