City comparison
No. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Chicago and Jacksonville are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,440 in Chicago and $1,465 in Jacksonville, and median household income lands at $77,902 versus $69,872. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Chicago is the easier city on typical rent, but Jacksonville can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Chicago and Jacksonville are 863 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $25 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $8,030 (10%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 150 in Jacksonville, down 17 points (10%).
The move
Jacksonville and Chicago are 863 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $25 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $77,902 in Chicago, up $8,030 (11%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 167 in Chicago, up 17 points (11%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Chicago rent is 2% cheaper than Jacksonville
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Chicago is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $25, or $300 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Chicago? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Chicago's median income is 11% higher than Jacksonville
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Jacksonville
$69,872
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Chicago (about $8,030 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Chicago is the stronger labor market on paper. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
10% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 10% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Jacksonville. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Jacksonville, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Chicago. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 20% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
59°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 83/100
Jacksonville
Winner79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 59°F (65°F highs); Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs). Chicago averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Jacksonville sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Jacksonville scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Chicago if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 11% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Jacksonville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (79°F) beat Chicago on this page's weather index by 20%. Chicago may pay more or cost less, but Jacksonville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Chicago (150 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,465/month rent in Jacksonville at 79°F versus $1,440 in Chicago at 59°F. Income runs $69,872 vs $77,902, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Median income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville wins on climate (79°F vs 59°F); Chicago is the better fit if $1,440 rent and $77,902 pay matter more than daily weather.
Safety scores read 44/100 in Chicago and 48/100 in Jacksonville.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Jacksonville, plus other cities in IL and FL.
