City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Atlanta split most clearly. Jacksonville scores 47 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,711 in Atlanta.
Jacksonville is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Atlanta makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Jacksonville is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Jacksonville has rougher pockets and Atlanta has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jacksonville and Atlanta are 285 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $246 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $15,780 (23%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 197 in Atlanta, up 47 points (31%).
The move
Atlanta and Jacksonville are 285 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $246 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $15,780 (18%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 150 in Jacksonville, down 47 points (24%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 14% cheaper than Atlanta
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so Jacksonville is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,952, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Jacksonville still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Atlanta.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Atlanta's median income is 23% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Atlanta (about $15,780 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, Atlanta 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
24% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 24% lower than Atlanta
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% 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. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
10% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 10% more comfortable than Atlanta
Jacksonville
Winner73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Atlanta averages around 61°F. Jacksonville scores 10% 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 Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% 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.
Pick Jacksonville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Atlanta on this page's weather index by 10%. Atlanta 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 24% lower than Atlanta (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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Jacksonville is the warmer market (73°F) and Atlanta the cooler (61°F). Typical leases run $1,465 and $1,711; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/month is still below Atlanta's $1,711, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Between Jacksonville and Atlanta, Jacksonville is ahead on climate — 73°F typical weather versus 61°F. Lean Atlanta instead when you would rather tolerate 61°F than optimize for Jacksonville's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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