City comparison
No. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Safety is where Houston and Jacksonville split most clearly. Jacksonville scores 120 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,465 in Jacksonville.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and Jacksonville wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Jacksonville has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and Jacksonville are 820 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $104 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $5,059 (8%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 150 in Jacksonville, down 120 points (44%).
The move
Jacksonville and Houston are 820 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $104 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $64,813 in Houston, down $5,059 (7%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 270 in Houston, up 120 points (80%).
Houston, 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 Houston and Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Houston rent is 7% cheaper than Jacksonville
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Houston is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $104, or $1,248 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
8% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 8% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Jacksonville (about $5,059 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
44% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 44% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% 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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Houston and Jacksonville are about even on typical weather.
Houston
77°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville
79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 77°F (85°F highs); Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs). Houston sits near 77°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Houston
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Jacksonville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($69,872). Start with Jacksonville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 44% lower than Houston (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Jacksonville: Jacksonville scores 48/100 versus 30/100 in Houston, with typical rent at $1,465 versus $1,361. I would vet the exact ZIP in Houston before trading 18 safety points for housing savings.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Jacksonville's $1,465, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,361 in Houston and $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Pick Jacksonville when you want the stronger safety signal (48/100). Otherwise, Houston's case rests on a Houston ZIP you trust at $1,361 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 Houston and Jacksonville, plus other cities in TX and FL.
