Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Jacksonville leads 16 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Lancaster
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($243,000 vs $368,800)
25% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $295/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,576)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails Lancaster by $7,229/yr
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,229 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Jacksonville
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
25% lower
623.8 vs 834.7 per 100k
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$126k less
$243,000 vs $368,800
Jacksonville
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Income
$7,229
$71,367 vs $64,138/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 171,465 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 16 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 16 and Lancaster wins 6. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $368,800 median home), income ($64,138 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Lancaster, CA are about 2,137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.