Moving from Fairfield, CA to Jackson, MS

A 2141 mi cross-country move between Fairfield and Jackson is 37h 58m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 6 states. Nearly every household line β€” rent, taxes, climate, commute β€” usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.

2141 mi Β· 37h 58m by car Β· MS β†’ LA β†’ TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA

COL -17.9% Home values -85.7% Ξ” +4.3Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
2141 mi
Drive time
37h 58m
States
6
Fuel (25 mpg)
86 gal
Route throughMS β†’ LA β†’ TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA
Primary highwaysI 40, US 287, US 80
Major cities en routeShreveport, Tyler, Dallas, Mesquite, Garland

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

FairfieldJacksonU.S. avg
All items (RPP)108.47989.048100.0
Rents154.99378.137100.0
Goods105.16896.219100.0
Services142.04264.768100.0

Overall cost of living drops 17.9% moving from Fairfield to Jackson β€” meaningful on rent but closer to parity on groceries.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Fairfield β€” typical home
$609,269
Jackson β€” typical home
$87,256
Fairfield β€” typical rent
$2,425/mo
Jackson β€” typical rent
$1,239/mo

Zillow ZHVI drops from $609,269 in Fairfield to $87,256 in Jackson, a 17.9% decrease on the typical home value.

YoY change: Fairfield -2.4%, Jackson -1.7%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsFairfieldJackson
Annual avg temperature62Β°F66Β°F
January avg low40Β°F38Β°F
July avg high90Β°F92Β°F
Annual snowfall0.0"β€”
Annual precipitation24.5"51.3"

Climate is roughly comparable on the annual mean β€” 61.7Β°F vs 66.0Β°F per NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: FAIRFIELD, CA US, JACKSON HAWKINS FLD, MS US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023FairfieldJackson
Population119,985149,827
Median household income$102,321$43,238
Median age36.834.7
Bachelor's degree or higher17.8%16.2%
Avg household size3.162.42

Jackson households earn about 17.9% less than Fairfield at the median β€” $102,321 β†’ $43,238 on ACS 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Fairfield MSA β€” median wage
$53,520
Jackson MSA β€” median wage
$39,540
Fairfield MSA β€” employment
137,640
Jackson MSA β€” employment
252,860

Top occupations in Jackson MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 31,490 $36,580
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 26,230 $36,470
Sales and Related Occupations 23,080 $29,690
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations 22,970 $66,380
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 22,370 $22,500

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Mississippi

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Mississippi income tax
4.4% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Mississippi's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Jackson average 92Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Pack rain gear on top: Jackson averages 51.3 in of annual precipitation β€” waterproof jackets and boots are worth unpacking before the big boxes.
  • Hurricane season runs June through November on the Gulf Coast.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Mississippi after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

Is Jackson more expensive than Fairfield?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Jackson is 17.9% lower than Fairfield (89.048 vs 108.479, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How much do homes cost in Jackson compared to Fairfield?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $87,256 in Jackson vs $609,269 in Fairfield β€” a 85.7% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does the job market in Jackson compare to Fairfield?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $39,540 in the Jackson MSA vs $53,520 in the Fairfield MSA, on total employment of 252,860 and 137,640 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How does household income compare in Fairfield vs Jackson?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $43,238 in Jackson vs $102,321 in Fairfield β€” a 57.7% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

When is the best time to move from Fairfield to Jackson?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2141 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How far is Jackson, MS from Fairfield, CA?

The driving distance is 2141 mi and the route typically takes 37h 58m via I 40 and US 287. The trip crosses 6 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Fairfield.

City profiles: Fairfield, CA Β· Jackson, MS.

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