Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Seattle, 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 ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Seattle
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $637k less ($243,000 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $664/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,945)
20% less violent crime than Seattle
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $51,930/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
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $51,930 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Jacksonville
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
20% lower
623.8 vs 775.1 per 100k
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$637k less
$243,000 vs $879,900
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$51,930
$116,068 vs $64,138/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Seattle, 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 | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 734,603 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Seattle'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 Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $879,900 median home), income ($64,138 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Seattle, WA are about 2,452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.