City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Jacksonville and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 57 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
Tampa 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 Tampa is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Tampa has rougher pockets and Jacksonville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Jacksonville and Tampa are 172 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $236 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $75,475 in Tampa, up $5,603 (8%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 93 in Tampa, down 57 points (38%).
The move
Tampa and Jacksonville are 172 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $236 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $5,603 (7%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 150 in Jacksonville, up 57 points (61%).
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Jacksonville and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 14% cheaper than Tampa
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Jacksonville 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 $2,832, 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 Tampa.
Planning to buy in Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Tampa's median income is 8% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Tampa (about $5,603 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
38% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 38% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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
Tampa weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa 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 14% 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 8% higher ($75,475), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Jacksonville (93 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Tampa leads on safety (62/100 vs 48/100 in Jacksonville). Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $1,465 in Jacksonville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Tampa still pays more locally ($75,475 median income vs $69,872), which can offset the lease if your field pays Tampa rates.
Median income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Tampa; Jacksonville only makes sense when you have walked the Jacksonville ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,465 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Tampa, plus other cities in FL.
