Jackson, MS vs Southaven, MS
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Jackson, MS outspends Southaven, MS by a wide margin per resident — $42,004 versus $10,958, a 283% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Southaven, MS holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 62/100 (grade C) against 52/100 (grade C) for Jackson, MS — a 10-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Jackson, MS reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Southaven, MS carries $770 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Jackson, MS leads with police at $629 per resident, while Southaven, MS leads with parks and recreation at $1,286.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 19% of total revenue in Jackson, MS and 14% in Southaven, MS.
Summary
Jackson spends 283.3% more per capita than Southaven ($31,046/person difference). Southaven, MS has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $58 | $552 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $559 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,205 | $1,821 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $1,246 |
| Other | $93 | $1,581 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $629 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $457 | $123 |
| Highways & Roads | $601 | $384 |
| Public Welfare | $1,474 | $481 |
| Health | $0 | $55 |
| Parks & Recreation | $429 | $1,286 |
| Housing | $897 | $2,918 |
| Utilities | $517 | $1,878 |
| General Admin | $34,360 | $0 |
| Other | $2,641 | $3,834 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.