Quality of Life Score
47.01
State Comparison
Alabama vs Mississippi
Mississippi is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Mississippi, Alabama has higher incomes, Mississippi has lower state income tax, and Mississippi gets more sunshine.
Alabama
15
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Tie
Mississippi
15
/ 30
metrics won
MS wins Housing
MS wins Quality of Life
MS wins Climate
AL wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alabama
winner
vs
Mississippi
Alabama scores higher on quality of life — 3.48 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Mississippi is 3.1 points cheaper overall
Mississippi has the lower cost-of-living index. Mississippi is at 85.5, while Alabama is at 88.6.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $1.39 further in Mississippi
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $116.01 of local buying power in Mississippi, versus $114.62 in Alabama.
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Income
Alabama income is 11.9% higher
Alabama has the higher median household income at $54,943, compared with $49,111 in Mississippi.
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Jobs
Mississippi has the higher minimum wage
Mississippi has the higher statewide minimum wage at $7.25/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Alabama.
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Housing
Alabama homes cost about 1.2x more
Mississippi has the lower median home value at $140,800, versus $174,600 in Alabama.
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Taxes
Mississippi has lower state income tax
Mississippi has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.70%, compared with 5.00% in Alabama.
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Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Alabama
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Mississippi
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.7%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (87.2 for Alabama, 85.5 for Mississippi). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alabama
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Alabama
- Alabama shows higher median income.
- Alabama has lower property tax rates on average.
- Alabama health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Alabama health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Alabama education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Alabama has a higher overall cost of living.
- Alabama has a higher housing cost index.
- Alabama has higher median home values.
- Alabama has a higher violent crime rate.
- Alabama job growth trend is weaker.
- Alabama has fewer sunny days.
Mississippi
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Mississippi
- Mississippi has a lower overall cost of living.
- Mississippi has a lower housing cost index.
- Mississippi has lower median home values.
- Mississippi has a lower violent crime rate.
- Mississippi job growth trend is stronger.
- Mississippi has more sunny days.
Cons
- Mississippi shows lower median income.
- Mississippi has higher property tax rates on average.
- Mississippi health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Mississippi health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Mississippi education proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AL
|
MS
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Montgomery | Jackson |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
5,024,279
|
2,961,279
|
|
Median Income
|
$54,943
|
$49,111
|
|
Cost of Living
|
88.6
|
85.5
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$174,600
|
$140,800
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.38%
|
0.72%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
5.00%
|
4.70%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$7.25/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.840/gal
|
$3.755/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.06 c/kWh
|
14.24 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
47.01
|
43.53
|
|
Average Temperature
|
62.8°F
|
63.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
99 days
|
111 days
|
|
Land Area
|
52,419 sq mi
|
48,432 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
95.8 per sq mi
|
61.1 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 14, 1819 (#22)
|
December 10, 1817 (#20)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
15
shown
Saving Money
Mississippi is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 85.5 vs 88.6 in Alabama. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Mississippi is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.755/gal in Mississippi vs $3.840/gal in Alabama. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Electricity Rates
Mississippi has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 14.24 c/kWh in Mississippi vs 16.06 c/kWh in Alabama. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Mississippi is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.87x in Mississippi vs 3.18x in Alabama. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Alabama is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 20.2% in Alabama vs 20.6% in Mississippi. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Alabama has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.38% in Alabama vs 0.72% in Mississippi. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Alabama has a larger population than Mississippi by 2,063,000 people.
Population Density
Alabama is more densely populated than Mississippi.
Bachelor's Degree
Alabama has a higher college-educated share than Mississippi.
Advanced Degree
Alabama has a higher advanced-degree share than Mississippi.
People Also Ask
Alabama vs Mississippi - Common Questions
Q Is Alabama cheaper to live in than Mississippi?
Mississippi has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Mississippi scores 85.5 versus 88.6 for Alabama - a gap of 3.1 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alabama or Mississippi?
$100 goes further in Mississippi. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $116.01 in Mississippi, compared with $114.62 in Alabama.
Q Which state is bigger - Alabama or Mississippi?
Alabama is larger, covering 52,419 sq mi compared with 48,432 sq mi for Mississippi - roughly 1.1x the size.
Q Does Alabama or Mississippi have more people?
Alabama has the larger population at 5,024,279, compared with 2,961,279 in Mississippi.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alabama or Mississippi?
Alabama has the higher median household income at $54,943, versus $49,111 in Mississippi.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alabama or Mississippi?
Mississippi has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.70%, compared with 5.00% in Alabama.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alabama or Mississippi?
Homes are cheaper in Mississippi, where the median home value is $140,800, versus $174,600 in Alabama.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alabama or Mississippi?
Alabama is more densely populated at 95.8 per sq mi people per sq mi. Mississippi is more spread out at 61.1 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.