Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Jacksonville leads 13 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203
Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $580k less ($243,000 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $510/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,791)
14% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.8%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Los Angeles by $12,106/yr
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,106 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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
14% lower
623.8 vs 728.5 per 100k
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$580k less
$243,000 vs $822,600
Jacksonville
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$12,106
$76,244 vs $64,138/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 13 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 13 and Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $822,600 median home), income ($64,138 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Los Angeles, CA are about 2,153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.