City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
The income gap between Jacksonville and Anaheim is significant: $69,872 median household versus $95,227. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,465 in Jacksonville and $2,175 in Anaheim.
Anaheim is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Jacksonville makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Anaheim is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Jacksonville at $1,465 average has pockets that run $1,265 and others at $1,865: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Jacksonville and Anaheim are 2,125 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $710 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $25,355 (36%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 143 in Anaheim, down 7 points (5%).
The move
Anaheim and Jacksonville are 2,125 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $710 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $25,355 (27%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 150 in Jacksonville, up 7 points (5%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 33% cheaper than Anaheim
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so Jacksonville is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $710/month back in your pocket ($8,520/year). Over five years that's $42,600 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Jacksonville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
36% higher
Anaheim's median income is 36% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Anaheim (about $25,355 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, Anaheim 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
5% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 5% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Anaheim. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Anaheim, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Jacksonville. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
2% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim scores 2% 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 Jacksonville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Jacksonville
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 36% higher ($95,227), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Jacksonville (143 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
On rent alone, Jacksonville undercuts Anaheim by $710/month ($1,465 vs $2,175). I would not pick Anaheim on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/month is still below Anaheim's $2,175, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Jacksonville and 49/100 in Anaheim.
Jacksonville is the default on housing cost at $1,465/month versus $2,175 in Anaheim; Anaheim stays in play when $95,227 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $710 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Anaheim, plus other cities in FL and CA.
