Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 14 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Roswell
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $236k less ($243,000 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $338/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $58,786/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
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $58,786 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$236k less
$243,000 vs $479,400
Roswell
Median Income
$58,786
$122,924 vs $64,138/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
74% lower
160.1 vs 623.8 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 51.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 92,770 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 14 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 9 and Roswell 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $479,400 median home), income ($64,138 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Roswell, GA are about 300 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.