Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Jacksonville leads 16 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838
Jacksonville
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,517 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($243,000 vs $395,600)
26% less violent crime than Atlanta
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,512)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 54°F
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Atlanta by $13,517/yr
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$13,517
$77,655 vs $64,138/yr
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
26% lower
623.8 vs 840.6 per 100k
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$153k less
$243,000 vs $395,600
Jacksonville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $243,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,281 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 57.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 16 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 7 and Jacksonville wins 16. 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 Atlanta to Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $243,000 median home), income ($77,655 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Jacksonville, FL are about 287 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.