Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Albuquerque leads 12 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551
Jacksonville
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,281)
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.8%)
Median income trails Jacksonville by $2,635/yr
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
47% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 52°F
Households earn $2,635 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 91.8°F
Jacksonville
Median Income
$2,635
$64,138 vs $61,503/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
47% lower
623.8 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Jacksonville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 99.2 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $243,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,281 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $64,138 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 57.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 12 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 12 and Jacksonville wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $243,000 median home), income ($61,503 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Jacksonville, FL are about 1,485 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.