Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe 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
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($243,000 vs $382,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $191/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
Cons
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
Median income trails Tempe by $7,884/yr
Tempe, AZ
Pros
25% less violent crime than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,884 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 66°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$139k less
$243,000 vs $382,100
Jacksonville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Median Income
$7,884
$72,022 vs $64,138/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
25% lower
470.3 vs 623.8 per 100k
Tempe
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 10 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $382,100 median home), income ($64,138 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Tempe, AZ are about 1,783 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.