Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Jacksonville leads 16 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Riverside
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $243k less ($243,000 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,711)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Riverside by $19,310/yr
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,310 more per year on average
5% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$243k less
$243,000 vs $485,500
Jacksonville
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$19,310
$83,448 vs $64,138/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
5% lower
589.7 vs 623.8 per 100k
Riverside
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 316,076 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 16 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 16 and Riverside wins 6. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $485,500 median home), income ($64,138 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Riverside, CA are about 2,095 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.