Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Jacksonville leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Jacksonville
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $49,041 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $413k less ($243,000 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $702/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 45°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $49,041/yr
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
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$49,041
$113,179 vs $64,138/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
65% lower
219.1 vs 623.8 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$413k less
$243,000 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $243,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,281 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 57.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Jacksonville wins 12. 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 Alexandria to Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $243,000 median home), income ($113,179 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Jacksonville, FL are about 641 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.