Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Jacksonville leads 15 of 22 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548
Jacksonville
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $40k less ($202,900 vs $243,000)
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.8%)
Median income trails Jacksonville by $5,789/yr
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
61% less violent crime than Baltimore
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 44°F
Households earn $5,789 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$40k less
$202,900 vs $243,000
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Income
$5,789
$64,138 vs $58,349/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
61% lower
623.8 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Jacksonville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $243,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,281 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $64,138 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 57.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 15 of 22 categories. Baltimore wins 7 and Jacksonville wins 15. 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 Baltimore to Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $243,000 median home), income ($58,349 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Jacksonville, FL are about 682 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.