Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Jacksonville leads 12 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
58% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $15,241 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 59°F
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 9% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($155,200 vs $243,000)
Rent averages $314/mo less ($967 vs $1,281)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jacksonville by $15,241/yr
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Median Income
$15,241
$64,138 vs $48,897/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
58% lower
623.8 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Jacksonville
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$88k less
$155,200 vs $243,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 51.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 156,554 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 12 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 12 and Macon-Bibb County wins 10. 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $155,200 median home), income ($64,138 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 209 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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