Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Jackson lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Jackson sits.
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Jackson fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
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- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
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Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Jackson's strongest factors are Higher Education, Culture and Climate. Its heaviest drawbacks are Economic Strain, Weather Extremes and Going-Out Cost.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
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Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Jackson
The Jackson read Free
A written read on Jackson, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Jackson scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Jackson, MS: A Quiet Hub for Higher Education
Jackson, MS earns a Fun Score of 24, placing it in the "Quiet" category, and is most nationally notable for its strong performance in higher education.
Why it scores high
Jackson, MS stands out with an exceptional score in Higher Education, achieving a 91 out of 100 and tying for the 5th national rank out of 134 cities (NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data). This indicates a robust presence of academic institutions and a significant student population, contributing to a vibrant intellectual atmosphere.
The city also performs well in Culture, with a score of 56 and tying for the 59th national rank (OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). This suggests a decent array of museums, galleries, and theaters, offering residents and visitors opportunities for cultural enrichment. Additionally, Jackson, MS benefits from a favorable Climate, scoring 56 and tying for the 59th national rank (NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days). This indicates a comfortable number of pleasant days throughout the year, making outdoor activities more enjoyable.
Beyond these top factors, Jackson, MS also shows strength in its safety and cost of living. The city boasts a high Crime score of 86, tying for the 19th national rank (FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals), meaning it is a relatively safe place to live. Furthermore, the Going-Out Cost score of 65, tying for the 22nd national rank (Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services), suggests that entertainment and dining out are relatively affordable compared to many other cities.
Where it falls short
While strong in some areas, Jackson, MS faces challenges in its dining and social scene. The city scores very low in Coffee with a score of 1, ranking 133rd nationally (OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). This indicates a limited number of coffee shops, or those present may not be highly rated. Similarly, the Eats scene is quite limited, with a score of 2, tying for the 131st national rank (OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality), suggesting a scarcity of diverse and highly-rated dining options.
The availability of places for a night out also appears to be a weakness, with Drinks scoring 5 and tying for the 127th national rank (OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality). This suggests fewer options for bars, pubs, and nightlife compared to other cities. These low scores in dining and drinking indicate that residents might find fewer choices for casual outings or evening entertainment.
Who it's for
Jackson, MS is ideal for students and academics seeking an affordable city with a strong educational presence and a comfortable climate. Those who prioritize safety and cultural experiences over a bustling nightlife or extensive dining options will find Jackson, MS to be a suitable home.
Cities like it
- Laredo, TX: Similar in its quiet atmosphere and focus on specific strengths rather than a broad entertainment offering.
- Winston-Salem, NC: Shares a comparable balance of cultural offerings and a more relaxed pace of life.
- El Paso, TX: Another city that offers a quieter lifestyle with specific points of interest.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- FEMA National Risk Index
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- OpenStreetMap music venues
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Jackson’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Jackson, MS: 25/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/jackson-ms
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.