City comparison
No. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 169 in New York, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 195, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,821 in New York.
New York and Jacksonville 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 $1,821 in New York and $1,465 in Jacksonville, and median household income lands at $80,483 versus $69,872. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Jacksonville is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. New York makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Jacksonville is the stronger move.
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
New York and Jacksonville are 836 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $356 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $10,611 (13%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 150 in Jacksonville, down 19 points (11%).
The move
Jacksonville and New York are 836 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,821 a month in New York, up $356 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $80,483 in New York, up $10,611 (15%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 169 in New York, up 19 points (13%).
New York, NY
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 New York and Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 20% cheaper than New York
New York
$1,821/mo
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,821 in New York, so Jacksonville is 20% 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 $4,272, 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 New York.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
New York's median income is 15% higher than Jacksonville
New York
Winner$80,483
Jacksonville
$69,872
Median household income is $80,483 in New York versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 15% higher in New York (about $10,611 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, New York 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
11% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 11% lower than New York
New York
169 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 169 in New York (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% 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 New York. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 25% more comfortable than New York
New York
58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
Jacksonville
Winner79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 58°F (65°F highs); Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs). New York averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Jacksonville sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Jacksonville scores 25% 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 New York if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
New York is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($80,483). Start with New York if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% 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.
Pick Jacksonville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (79°F) beat New York on this page's weather index by 25%. New York may pay more or cost less, but Jacksonville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than New York (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
Weather separates these metros: $1,465/month rent in Jacksonville at 79°F versus $1,821 in New York at 58°F. Income runs $69,872 vs $80,483, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
New York still pays more locally ($80,483 median income vs $69,872), which can offset the lease if your field pays New York rates.
Median income is $80,483 in New York versus $69,872 in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville wins on climate (79°F vs 58°F); New York is the better fit if $1,821 rent and $80,483 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Jacksonville, plus other cities in NY and FL.
