City comparison
No. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Dallas 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 $1,472 in Dallas and $1,465 in Jacksonville, and median household income lands at $70,518 versus $69,872. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on the job market and Jacksonville wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Dallas and Jacksonville are 907 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $7 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $646 (1%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 150 in Jacksonville, down 38 points (20%).
The move
Jacksonville and Dallas are 907 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $7 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $70,518 in Dallas, up $646 (1%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 188 in Dallas, up 38 points (25%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 1% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Jacksonville is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $7, or $84 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 Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Dallas's median income is 1% higher than Jacksonville
Dallas
Winner$70,518
Jacksonville
$69,872
Median household income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Dallas (about $646 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 20% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Jacksonville. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Jacksonville is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Jacksonville are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville
79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs). Dallas sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Jacksonville sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($70,518). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,465 a month. Choose Jacksonville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Dallas (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Jacksonville leads on safety (48/100 vs 41/100 in Dallas). With rent tied near $1,465/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $70,518 in Dallas versus $69,872 in Jacksonville — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Jacksonville; Dallas only makes sense when you have walked the Dallas ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Jacksonville when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Jacksonville, plus other cities in TX and FL.
