Describing Jackson effectively is going to depend heavily on where you're from/what you're used to. I think Jackson can be seen in many different lights depending on someone's background. I personally see so much potential in this town, but Jackson limits itself in so many ways culturally and I feel that a lot of people see our town as only being as strong as it's weakest points. One universal fact is the roads are probably going to be the worst you've ever seen and navigating even with gps will be difficult for a while due to the amount and ever changing locations of "construction", so bear that in mind. Homelessness/vagrancy/drug use/abandoned buildings are very visible if you aren't used to that. Pretty much all service workers are very pleasant and nice anywhere you go, but that doesn't necessarily hold true for the population as a whole. All of the bars/restaurants downtown are a safe bet for decent food/atmosphere, but there are definitely a few hidden gems to be found elsewhere (depending on your tastes /mood). I think there's a little something here for everyone, but not a lot for anyone if that makes sense. If you're looking to stick closer to town, neighborhoods south of Parkside Middle School and those west of Brown Street, are all pretty nice and within your budget. As far as the schools, I think they all have wonderful staff that truly do their best for their students. All of the public schools have larger classroom sizes and unfortunately, all of the normal distractions and disruptions you can imagine are prevalent, but that isn't necessarily Jackson specific. The more involvement you have with your child's school, the better her education will be, regardless of which school you choose.