Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Hoover leads 16 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Jacksonville
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
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.
Hoover, AL
Pros
87% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Households earn $37,627 more per year on average
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($243,000 vs $366,200)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 55°F
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $37,627/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$37,627
$101,765 vs $64,138/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
87% lower
78.0 vs 623.8 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.8% unemployment
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$123k less
$243,000 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 99.2 |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $243,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,281 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 53.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 57.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 16 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 16 and Jacksonville wins 7. 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 Hoover to Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $243,000 median home), income ($101,765 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Jacksonville, FL are about 368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.