Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 37°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $3,951 more per year on average
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 5% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($171,800 vs $243,000)
32% less violent crime than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,281)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.8%)
Median income trails Jacksonville by $3,951/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Median Income
$3,951
$64,138 vs $60,187/yr
Jacksonville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
32% lower
427.2 vs 623.8 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$71k less
$171,800 vs $243,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 14 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 9 and Pittsburgh wins 14. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $171,800 median home), income ($64,138 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Pittsburgh, PA are about 704 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.