City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Baltimore split most clearly. Jacksonville scores 188 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 $1,331 in Baltimore.
Jacksonville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Baltimore 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 Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jacksonville and Baltimore are 682 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $134 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $7,695 (11%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 338 in Baltimore, up 188 points (125%).
The move
Baltimore and Jacksonville are 682 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $134 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $7,695 (12%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 150 in Jacksonville, down 188 points (56%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Baltimore, MD
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Baltimore? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 9% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Baltimore is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $134, or $1,608 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
12% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 12% higher than Baltimore
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Baltimore
$62,177
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Jacksonville (about $7,695 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, Jacksonville is the stronger labor market on paper. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 56% lower than Baltimore
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 16% more comfortable than Baltimore
Jacksonville
Winner79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore
60°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 86/100
Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs); Baltimore averages about 60°F (67°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Baltimore averages around 60°F. Jacksonville scores 16% 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 Baltimore 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 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 12% higher ($69,872), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 79°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than Baltimore (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Baltimore
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,331 a month. Choose Baltimore if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Jacksonville: Jacksonville scores 48/100 versus 23/100 in Baltimore, with typical rent at $1,465 versus $1,331. I would vet the exact ZIP in Baltimore before trading 25 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (48/100 in Jacksonville vs 23/100 in Baltimore), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $62,177 in Baltimore.
If safety drives your move, Jacksonville is the stronger match (48/100 safety versus 23/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Baltimore, treat $1,331/month rent and $62,177 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Jacksonville?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Jacksonville when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Baltimore, plus other cities in FL and MD.
