Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Orlando
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $90k less ($243,000 vs $332,700)
25% less violent crime than Orlando
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,509)
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
Orlando, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 66°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
25% lower
623.8 vs 835.8 per 100k
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$90k less
$243,000 vs $332,700
Orlando
Median Income
$2,154
$66,292 vs $64,138/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 101.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,509⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $66,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 51.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 307,738 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 13 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 13 and Orlando 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $332,700 median home), income ($64,138 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Orlando, FL are about 135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.