Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Jacksonville leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Jacksonville
Florida
13
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
48% less violent crime than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $16,105 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $677k less ($243,000 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $572/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boulder by $16,105/yr
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$16,105
$80,243 vs $64,138/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
48% lower
322.3 vs 623.8 per 100k
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$677k less
$243,000 vs $919,700
Jacksonville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $243,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,281 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 57.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 10 and Jacksonville wins 13. 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 Boulder to Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $243,000 median home), income ($80,243 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Jacksonville, FL are about 1,485 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.