Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Jacksonville leads 13 of 23 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
New York
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $489k less ($243,000 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
7% less violent crime than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.8%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New York by $12,469/yr
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $12,469 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) 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
Violent Crime
7% lower
623.8 vs 671.0 per 100k
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$489k less
$243,000 vs $732,100
Jacksonville
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 84.8°F
New York
Median Income
$12,469
$76,607 vs $64,138/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 13 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 13 and New York 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $732,100 median home), income ($64,138 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and New York, NY are about 834 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.