City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
The income gap between Jacksonville and Sacramento is significant: $69,872 median household versus $87,321. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,779 in Sacramento.
This is a genuine split. Jacksonville wins on cost of living and safety and Sacramento wins on the job market. 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. 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 Sacramento are 2,321 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $314 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $17,449 (25%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 181 in Sacramento, up 31 points (21%).
The move
Sacramento and Jacksonville are 2,321 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $314 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $17,449 (20%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 150 in Jacksonville, down 31 points (17%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 18% cheaper than Sacramento
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Jacksonville is 18% 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 $3,768, 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 Sacramento.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Sacramento's median income is 25% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Sacramento (about $17,449 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, Sacramento 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
17% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 17% lower than Sacramento
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% 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. Sacramento 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 Sacramento are about even on typical weather.
Jacksonville
79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento
69°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs); Sacramento averages about 69°F (81°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Sacramento sits near 69°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
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 18% 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 17% lower than Sacramento (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 and professional growth
Sacramento is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 25% higher here ($87,321). Start with Sacramento if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Sacramento runs $1,779/month while Jacksonville sits at $1,465 — roughly 18% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Sacramento-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Jacksonville and 42/100 in Sacramento.
Between Jacksonville and Sacramento, Jacksonville is ahead on housing cost — $1,465/month rent against $1,779. Lean Sacramento instead when your $87,321 income offer in Sacramento outweighs saving $314/month in Jacksonville.
Common questions
Ready to move to Jacksonville?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Jacksonville when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Sacramento, plus other cities in FL and CA.
