City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 241, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Jacksonville and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Orlando split most clearly. Jacksonville scores 92 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 $1,747 in Orlando.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Jacksonville costs less and Orlando pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Jacksonville at $1,465 average has pockets that run $1,265 and others at $1,865: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Jacksonville and Orlando are 125 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $282 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $72,336 in Orlando, up $2,464 (4%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 242 in Orlando, up 92 points (61%).
The move
Orlando and Jacksonville are 125 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $282 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $2,464 (3%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 150 in Jacksonville, down 92 points (38%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 16% cheaper than Orlando
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Jacksonville is 16% 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 $3,384, 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 Orlando.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Orlando's median income is 4% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Orlando (about $2,464 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
38% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 38% lower than Orlando
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
2% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando 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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% 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.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Orlando (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
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 4% higher ($72,336), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Jacksonville leads on safety (48/100 vs 33/100 in Orlando). Typical rent is $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,747 in Orlando; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Orlando still pays more locally ($72,336 median income vs $69,872), which can offset the lease if your field pays Orlando rates.
Median income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville is ahead on safety (48/100 vs 33/100); Orlando is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,747/month rent plus $72,336 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Orlando, plus other cities in FL.
