City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between Jacksonville and Plano is significant: $69,872 median household versus $112,253. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano 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 Plano is the stronger move.
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 Plano are 903 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $376 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $112,253 in Plano, up $42,381 (61%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 62 in Plano, down 88 points (59%).
The move
Plano and Jacksonville are 903 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $376 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $42,381 (38%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 150 in Jacksonville, up 88 points (142%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 20% cheaper than Plano
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,841 in Plano, so Jacksonville 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 $4,512, 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 Plano.
Planning to buy in Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
61% higher
Plano's median income is 61% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 61% higher in Plano (about $42,381 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, Plano 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
59% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 59% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Plano. 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, Plano 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
Plano weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Plano
Winner69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano 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 20% 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 61% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 69°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than Jacksonville (62 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
Jacksonville carries the heavier crime signal on this page (48/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 27-point spread matters more than the $376 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,841 in Plano.
If safety drives your move, Plano is the stronger match (75/100 safety versus 48/100). 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
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Plano, plus other cities in FL and TX.
