Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Minneapolis
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
46% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Homes cost $86k less ($243,000 vs $328,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 22°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Minneapolis by $12,194/yr
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,194 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
46% lower
623.8 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$86k less
$243,000 vs $328,700
Jacksonville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$12,194
$76,332 vs $64,138/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 426,877 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 14 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 14 and Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $328,700 median home), income ($64,138 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,191 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.