City comparison
Jacksonville is safer than Lubbock. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 189 in Lubbock, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 221, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lubbock is cheaper. Median rent is $1,182 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Lubbock split most clearly. Jacksonville scores 39 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 $1,182 in Lubbock.
This is a genuine split. Jacksonville wins on the job market and safety and Lubbock wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lubbock at $1,182 average has pockets that run $982 and others at $1,582: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Jacksonville and Lubbock are 1,203 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, down $283 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $60,895 in Lubbock, down $8,977 (13%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 189 in Lubbock, up 39 points (26%).
The move
Lubbock and Jacksonville are 1,203 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $283 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $8,977 (15%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 150 in Jacksonville, down 39 points (21%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lubbock, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Lubbock rent is 19% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Lubbock
Winner$1,182/mo
Typical rent runs $1,182 a month in Lubbock versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Lubbock is 19% 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 $3,396, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lubbock 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
15% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 15% higher than Lubbock
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Lubbock
$60,895
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $60,895 in Lubbock, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Jacksonville (about $8,977 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. Lubbock can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 21% lower than Lubbock
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Lubbock
189 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 189 in Lubbock (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% 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. Lubbock can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Jacksonville and Lubbock are about even on typical weather.
Jacksonville
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lubbock
66°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 72°F (79°F highs); Lubbock averages about 66°F (74°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lubbock sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Jacksonville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($69,872). Start with Jacksonville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Lubbock (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 Lubbock
Lubbock is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,182 a month. Choose Lubbock if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,182/month in Lubbock versus $1,465 in Jacksonville. Median income reads $60,895 in Lubbock and $69,872 in Jacksonville, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Lubbock rent at $1,182/month is still below Jacksonville's $1,465, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $60,895 in Lubbock.
If housing cost drives your move, Lubbock is the stronger match ($1,182/month rent against $1,465). If an employer or family tie already points to Jacksonville, treat $1,465/month rent and $69,872 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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 Lubbock, plus other cities in FL and TX.
