True Cost of Renting in Jackson, MS

Jackson is Mississippi's capital and largest city — and a city navigating significant infrastructure challenges, most notably a water system that received national attention for failures in 2022. The Fondren neighborhood's walkable restaurants and arts scene, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and state government employment anchor a stable if modest rental market.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

Fondren

Studio:
$800/mo
1 Bed:
$950/mo
2 Bed:
$1,300/mo

Jackson's arts and dining district; walkable restaurant scene on Old Canton Road and Duling Avenue. Mix of renovated bungalows and small apartment buildings. Entergy Mississippi electric. Most desirable long-term neighborhood for young professionals. Ask landlords about water quality and infrastructure reliability.

Northeast Jackson / Ridgewood Road

1 Bed:
$1,000/mo
2 Bed:
$1,400/mo

More established suburban area in northeast Jackson; newer apartment complexes and better water infrastructure reliability than some central areas. Car-dependent. Good access to Highland Village retail.

Downtown / Medical District

Studio:
$750/mo
1 Bed:
$900/mo
2 Bed:
$1,200/mo

Area near UMMC (University of Mississippi Medical Center); limited apartment inventory targeted at medical students and residents. Entergy Mississippi electric. Parking generally included.

Utility Providers

Electric
Entergy Mississippi
Water
City of Jackson Water and Sewer (see notes on infrastructure)
Internet
Comcast Xfinity, AT&T Internet, T-Mobile Home Internet

Commute & Transportation

I-20 runs east-west through Jackson (Vicksburg, 45 min west; Meridian, 1.5 hrs east; Birmingham, 3 hrs east). I-55 runs north-south (Grenada and Memphis, 3 hrs north; Hattiesburg, 1.5 hrs south). UMMC is the state's largest employer at 10,000+ staff. State government buildings are concentrated on Capitol Street. Hinds County and the Jackson Public School District are major employers. Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) handles regional jets.

Rental Market Overview

Jackson offers Mississippi's lowest rents among its largest cities — median 1BR runs $900–1,000/month. However, prospective renters should investigate water infrastructure reliability before signing; water quality and pressure issues have varied significantly by neighborhood since 2022. Entergy Mississippi electric bills are significant in summer — budget $120–190/month due to high heat and humidity. UMMC medical school and residency program create stable professional demand. The Fondren neighborhood offers genuine quality-of-life amenities at very affordable prices. Mississippi has no state-level rent control, so landlords set renewal terms at market rate. Because the water-infrastructure issues have been neighborhood-specific rather than citywide, asking a prospective landlord directly about recent outages and pressure history for the exact building is more useful here than relying on the city's overall reputation.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Jackson

Enter your rental options below to see the true all-in monthly cost.

Renting in Jackson: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Jackson?
One-bedroom apartments in Jackson range from $900/month in Downtown / Medical District to $1,000/month in Northeast Jackson / Ridgewood Road. Two-bedroom units range from $1,200 to $1,400/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Jackson?
In Jackson, electricity is provided by Entergy Mississippi, water by City of Jackson Water and Sewer (see notes on infrastructure), and common internet providers include Comcast Xfinity, AT&T Internet, T-Mobile Home Internet. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within Jackson.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Jackson?
Downtown / Medical District is the most affordable of the 3 Jackson neighborhoods covered here, at $900/month for a one-bedroom — $100 less than Northeast Jackson / Ridgewood Road, roughly a 10% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Jackson expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Jackson runs about $950/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Jackson offers Mississippi's lowest rents among its largest cities — median 1BR runs $900–1,000/month. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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