Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Jacksonville leads 16 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $17,678 more per year on average
Homes cost $69k less ($243,000 vs $312,300)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°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
Newark, NJ
Pros
7% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Jacksonville by $17,678/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
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
Median Income
$17,678
$64,138 vs $46,460/yr
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$69k less
$243,000 vs $312,300
Jacksonville
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 10.7% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 86.8°F
Newark
Violent Crime
7% lower
581.2 vs 623.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 307,355 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 16 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 16 and Newark wins 7. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $312,300 median home), income ($64,138 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Newark, NJ are about 831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.