City comparison
No. Mesa's crime index is 108 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 131 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,620 in Mesa.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Mesa split most clearly. Mesa scores 42 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 $1,620 in Mesa.
Mesa is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Jacksonville makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Mesa is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Mesa has rougher pockets and Jacksonville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jacksonville and Mesa are 1,777 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,620 a month in Mesa, up $155 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $82,752 in Mesa, up $12,880 (18%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 108 in Mesa, down 42 points (28%).
The move
Mesa and Jacksonville are 1,777 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,620 a month in Mesa to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $155 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $82,752 in Mesa to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $12,880 (16%).
The crime index goes from 108 in Mesa to 150 in Jacksonville, up 42 points (39%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Mesa, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 10% cheaper than Mesa
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Mesa
$1,620/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,620 in Mesa, so Jacksonville is 10% 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 $1,860, 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 Mesa.
Planning to buy in Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Mesa's median income is 18% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Mesa
Winner$82,752
Median household income is $82,752 in Mesa versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Mesa (about $12,880 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, Mesa 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
28% lower crime
Mesa's crime index is 28% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Mesa
Winner108 (100 = avg)
Mesa's crime index is 108 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 28% lower in Mesa. 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, Mesa is the easier city. Jacksonville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
2% more comfortable
Mesa weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Mesa
Winner79°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Mesa averages about 79°F (87°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mesa sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mesa scores 2% 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 Jacksonville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Jacksonville
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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.
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 18% higher ($82,752), 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.
Mesa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 28% lower than Jacksonville (108 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Mesa leads on safety (58/100 vs 48/100 in Jacksonville). Typical rent is $1,620 in Mesa and $1,465 in Jacksonville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/month is still below Mesa's $1,620, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,620 in Mesa.
Between Jacksonville and Mesa, Mesa is ahead on safety — 58/100 safety versus 48/100. Lean Jacksonville instead when you already know the Jacksonville 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
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