Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Jacksonville leads 14 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006
Jacksonville
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $58k less ($184,600 vs $243,000)
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,281)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.8%)
Median income trails Jacksonville by $5,028/yr
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
29% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 34°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $5,028 more per year on average
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
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Indianapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$58k less
$184,600 vs $243,000
Jacksonville
Median Income
$5,028
$64,138 vs $59,110/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
29% lower
623.8 vs 877.9 per 100k
Jacksonville
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.6% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 99.2 |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $243,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,281 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $64,138 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 57.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 14 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 9 and Jacksonville wins 14. 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 Indianapolis to Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $243,000 median home), income ($59,110 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Jacksonville, FL are about 700 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.