Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Jacksonville leads 15 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $334k less ($243,000 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $583/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,864)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $28,154/yr
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
Renton, WA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Households earn $28,154 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Jacksonville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$334k less
$243,000 vs $576,800
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$28,154
$92,292 vs $64,138/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
46% lower
339.2 vs 623.8 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 44.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 15 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 15 and Renton wins 8. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $576,800 median home), income ($64,138 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Renton, WA are about 2,443 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.