City comparison
No. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
The cost gap between Los Angeles and Jacksonville is the real story here. Jacksonville comes in 24% cheaper on typical rent ($1,933 vs $1,465), which over a year adds up to $5,616. Median household income runs $81,939 in Los Angeles and $69,872 in Jacksonville.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on the job market and Jacksonville wins on cost of living and safety. 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
Los Angeles and Jacksonville are 2,143 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $468 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $12,067 (15%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 150 in Jacksonville, down 8 points (5%).
The move
Jacksonville and Los Angeles are 2,143 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $468 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $12,067 (17%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 158 in Los Angeles, up 8 points (5%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 24% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Jacksonville is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $468/month back in your pocket ($5,616/year). Over five years that's $28,080 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Los Angeles, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Jacksonville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 17% higher than Jacksonville
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Jacksonville
$69,872
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Los Angeles (about $12,067 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, Los Angeles 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
5% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 5% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% 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 Los Angeles. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and Jacksonville are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville
79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Jacksonville sits near 79°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 24% 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 5% lower than Los Angeles (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.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,465/month in Jacksonville versus $1,933 in Los Angeles. Median income reads $69,872 in Jacksonville and $81,939 in Los Angeles, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/month is still below Los Angeles's $1,933, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 46/100 in Los Angeles and 48/100 in Jacksonville.
Pick Jacksonville when shaving $468 off rent at $1,465/month is the priority. Otherwise, Los Angeles's case rests on $1,933/month rent with $81,939 local income.
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 Los Angeles and Jacksonville, plus other cities in CA and FL.
