City comparison
Fort Wayne, IN vs Jackson, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fort Wayne, IN are 4.0% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $104,000 in Fort Wayne, IN to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,097 a month in Jackson, MS versus $916 in Fort Wayne, IN. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Jackson, MS and 14% in Fort Wayne, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $348 a year higher in Jackson, MS than in Fort Wayne, IN.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Fort Wayne, IN to Jackson, MS changes real buying power by +4.0%, purely from prices.
- Fort Wayne, IN: price level 92.6 (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
| Fort Wayne, IN | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.6 | 89.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,193 in Jackson | $103,957 in Fort Wayne |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $916/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,700 | $42,850 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Wayne, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fort Wayne, IN and Jackson, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Wayne | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.3 | 64.8 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.2 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 92.6 | 89.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Wayne, IN → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$348/yr.
81 Strong offer
Jackson, MS → Fort Wayne, IN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$348/yr.
57 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Fort Wayne, IN to Jackson, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Wayne, IN | Jackson, MS | Real change, Fort Wayne → Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Wayne, IN | Jackson, MS | Jackson pay in Fort Wayne dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,800 | $50,240 | $52,228 (−12.7%) |
| Software Developers | $101,560 | $96,990 | $100,828 (−0.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,250 | $70,720 | $73,519 (−2.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,630 | $82,630 | $85,900 (+7.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.