City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 214 in Greensboro, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 235, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Greensboro is cheaper. Median rent is $1,172 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Jacksonville and Greensboro. Jacksonville averages 73°F while Greensboro averages 56°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,465 versus $1,172.
Jacksonville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Greensboro 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Greensboro at $1,172 average has pockets that run $972 and others at $1,572: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Jacksonville and Greensboro are 411 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,172 a month in Greensboro, down $293 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $61,515 in Greensboro, down $8,357 (12%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 214 in Greensboro, up 64 points (43%).
The move
Greensboro and Jacksonville are 411 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,172 a month in Greensboro to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $293 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $61,515 in Greensboro to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $8,357 (14%).
The crime index goes from 214 in Greensboro to 150 in Jacksonville, down 64 points (30%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Greensboro, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Greensboro? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Greensboro rent is 20% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Greensboro
Winner$1,172/mo
Typical rent runs $1,172 a month in Greensboro versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Greensboro is 20% 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 $3,516, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Greensboro 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
14% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 14% higher than Greensboro
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Greensboro
$61,515
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $61,515 in Greensboro, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Jacksonville (about $8,357 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. Greensboro can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
30% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 30% lower than Greensboro
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Greensboro
214 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 214 in Greensboro (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% 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. Greensboro can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
31% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 31% more comfortable than Greensboro
Jacksonville
Winner73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Greensboro
56°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 75/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Greensboro averages about 56°F (67°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Greensboro averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Jacksonville scores 31% 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 Greensboro 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 14% higher ($69,872), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°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 30% lower than Greensboro (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 Greensboro
Greensboro is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,172 a month. Choose Greensboro if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Jacksonville scores 48/100 versus 37/100 in Greensboro. Rent is $1,465/month in Jacksonville and $1,172/month in Greensboro, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (48/100 in Jacksonville vs 37/100 in Greensboro), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,172 in Greensboro and $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Between Jacksonville and Greensboro, Jacksonville is ahead on safety — 48/100 safety versus 37/100. Lean Greensboro instead when you already know the Greensboro block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Greensboro, plus other cities in FL and NC.
