Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Jacksonville leads 14 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Jersey City
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($243,000 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $518/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $27,013/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
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $27,013 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Jacksonville
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$257k less
$243,000 vs $500,100
Jacksonville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 86.8°F
Jersey City
Median Income
$27,013
$91,151 vs $64,138/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
10% lower
561.6 vs 623.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 287,899 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 14 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 14 and Jersey City wins 9. 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 Jacksonville to Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $500,100 median home), income ($64,138 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Jersey City, NJ are about 834 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.