City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 164 in Columbus, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 140, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Jacksonville and 2024 FBI data for Columbus.
Columbus is cheaper. Median rent is $1,295 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville and Columbus 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 $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,295 in Columbus, and median household income lands at $69,872 versus $66,082. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Jacksonville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Columbus 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.
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
Jacksonville and Columbus are 670 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,295 a month in Columbus, down $170 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $66,082 in Columbus, down $3,790 (5%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 164 in Columbus, up 14 points (9%).
The move
Columbus and Jacksonville are 670 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,295 a month in Columbus to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $170 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $66,082 in Columbus to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $3,790 (6%).
The crime index goes from 164 in Columbus to 150 in Jacksonville, down 14 points (9%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Columbus, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Columbus? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Columbus rent is 12% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Columbus
Winner$1,295/mo
Typical rent runs $1,295 a month in Columbus versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Columbus is 12% 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 $2,040, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Columbus still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Jacksonville.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 6% higher than Columbus
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Columbus
$66,082
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $66,082 in Columbus, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Jacksonville (about $3,790 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
9% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 9% lower than Columbus
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Columbus
164 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 164 in Columbus (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Jacksonville. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Jacksonville, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Columbus. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 20% more comfortable than Columbus
Jacksonville
Winner79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Columbus
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs); Columbus averages about 59°F (67°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Columbus averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Jacksonville scores 20% 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 Columbus 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 6% 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 9% lower than Columbus (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 Columbus
Columbus is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,295 a month. Choose Columbus if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Jacksonville is the warmer market (79°F) and Columbus the cooler (59°F). Typical leases run $1,465 and $1,295; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
With only $170 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Jacksonville and 45/100 in Columbus.
Jacksonville wins on climate (79°F vs 59°F); Columbus is the better fit if $1,295 rent and $66,082 pay matter more than daily weather.
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 Jacksonville and Columbus, plus other cities in FL and OH.
