Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1266k less ($243,000 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1690/mo less ($1,281 vs $2,971)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $85,014/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
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $85,014 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Jacksonville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$1266k less
$243,000 vs $1,508,900
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$85,014
$149,152 vs $64,138/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
61% lower
243.2 vs 623.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 10 and San Mateo wins 12. 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($64,138 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and San Mateo, CA are about 2,364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.