The Bad: Jackson has poor public-transit options, low education-adjusted wages, a high crime rate and an above-average chance of tornadoes, according to city-data.com .
The Good: Jackson ranks high on affordability, real estate prices remain low and unemployment isn’t too bad, with a rate of 7.6 percent. Sperling also notes that it’s got good health-care options and a great arts scene. Famous for its Gospel, Blues and R&B, the city’s tagline is “City with Soul.”
The Recovery: The city has struggled through the recession but signs of improvement are budding: Job growth and consumer spending are on the rise.
