City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Jacksonville and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Jacksonville and St Petersburg are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,663 in St Petersburg, and median household income lands at $69,872 versus $75,192. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Jacksonville costs less and St Petersburg 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Jacksonville and St Petersburg are 179 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $198 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $5,320 (8%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 165 in St Petersburg, up 15 points (10%).
The move
St Petersburg and Jacksonville are 179 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $198 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $5,320 (7%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 150 in Jacksonville, down 15 points (9%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 12% cheaper than St Petersburg
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Jacksonville is 12% 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 $2,376, 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 St Petersburg.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
St Petersburg's median income is 8% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 8% higher in St Petersburg (about $5,320 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
9% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 9% lower than St Petersburg
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% 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 St Petersburg. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
2% more comfortable
St Petersburg weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
St Petersburg
Winner77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg 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 12% 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 9% lower than St Petersburg (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 8% higher ($75,192), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
St Petersburg runs $1,663/month while Jacksonville sits at $1,465 — roughly 12% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is St Petersburg-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/month is still below St Petersburg's $1,663, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville is the default on housing cost at $1,465/month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg; St Petersburg stays in play when $75,192 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $198 lease gap.
With rent only $198 apart, neither city wins on housing alone — let income ($69,872 vs $75,192) and safety (48/100 vs 45/100) break the tie.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and St Petersburg, plus other cities in FL.
