City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Jacksonville and Pittsburgh. Jacksonville averages 68°F while Pittsburgh averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,465 versus $1,261.
Jacksonville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Pittsburgh 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Pittsburgh in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Jacksonville and Pittsburgh are 705 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $204 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $4,130 (6%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 8 points (5%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Jacksonville are 705 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $204 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $4,130 (6%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 150 in Jacksonville, down 8 points (5%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 14% cheaper than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Pittsburgh is 14% 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 $2,448, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Jacksonville (about $4,130 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
5% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 5% lower than Pittsburgh
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% 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 Pittsburgh. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Jacksonville
Winner68°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Jacksonville averages about 68°F (74°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Jacksonville scores 64% 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 Pittsburgh 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 68°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 5% lower than Pittsburgh (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 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh 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 (68°F) and Pittsburgh the cooler (51°F). Typical leases run $1,465 and $1,261; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Jacksonville still pays more locally ($69,872 median income vs $65,742), which can offset the lease if your field pays Jacksonville rates.
Median income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Jacksonville; Pittsburgh only makes sense when 51°F matches how you want to live year-round.
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 Pittsburgh, plus other cities in FL and PA.
