Jacksonville is a mid-sized city of 71,908 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $50,185
and a 8.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Jacksonville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Jacksonville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Jacksonville city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.6
Jacksonville's overall cost of living index is 91.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Jacksonville costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Jacksonville, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$176,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,181
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
35.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,185
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Jacksonville's violent crime rate is 311.4 per 100,000 residents
— 18% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
311.4 /100k
Property Crime
2073.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Jacksonville is served primarily by Onslow County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Jacksonville, NC
National Avg
School District
Onslow County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
22
—
Middle Schools
8
—
High Schools
8
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Jacksonville sees average highs of 56.0°F in January
and 89.3°F in July,
with 56.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.6 inches of snow per year.
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Jacksonville roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $176,200 and median rent is $1,181/month.
Jacksonville's violent crime rate is 311.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2073.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Jacksonville are operated by Onslow County Schools.
The district has 22 elementary, 8 middle, and 8 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 24.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Jacksonville, NC has a population of 71,908, a median household income of $50,185, and an unemployment rate of 8.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Jacksonville averages 56.0°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.5 inches
with about 0.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Jacksonville, NC is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 28540, 28547, 28546, 28543, 28542, 28539.
The population of Jacksonville, North Carolina is 71,908 with a median age of 23.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Jacksonville: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $176,200, median household income $50,185, crime index 89 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Jacksonville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
