Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($243,000 vs $343,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 100°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
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
Median income trails Redding by $3,185/yr
Redding, CA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $3,185 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
4% lower
623.8 vs 647.8 per 100k
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$100k less
$243,000 vs $343,000
Jacksonville
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Median Income
$3,185
$67,323 vs $64,138/yr
Redding
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $1,278 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 13 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 13 and Redding 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $343,000 median home), income ($64,138 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Redding, CA are about 2,374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.