Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 12 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Santa Clarita
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $426k less ($243,000 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $1034/mo less ($1,281 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Smaller class sizes — 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $52,048/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
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,048 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Jacksonville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$426k less
$243,000 vs $669,200
Jacksonville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$52,048
$116,186 vs $64,138/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
73% lower
165.4 vs 623.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 225,850 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 12 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 11 and Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $669,200 median home), income ($64,138 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.