City comparison
Yes. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Stockton split most clearly. Jacksonville scores 83 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 $1,577 in Stockton.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Jacksonville costs less and Stockton 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 crime gap is citywide. Jacksonville has rougher pockets and Stockton has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jacksonville and Stockton are 2,309 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $112 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $79,907 in Stockton, up $10,035 (14%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 233 in Stockton, up 83 points (55%).
The move
Stockton and Jacksonville are 2,309 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $112 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $10,035 (13%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 150 in Jacksonville, down 83 points (36%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 7% cheaper than Stockton
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,577 in Stockton, so Jacksonville is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $112, or $1,344 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Stockton's median income is 14% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Stockton (about $10,035 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, Stockton 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
36% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 36% lower than Stockton
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Stockton can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
2% more comfortable
Stockton weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Stockton
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton 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 7% 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 36% lower than Stockton (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 14% higher ($79,907), 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 34/100 in Stockton). Typical rent is $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,577 in Stockton; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/month is still below Stockton's $1,577, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,577 in Stockton.
Between Jacksonville and Stockton, Jacksonville is ahead on safety — 48/100 safety versus 34/100. Lean Stockton instead when you already know the Stockton block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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 Stockton, plus other cities in FL and CA.
