City comparison
No. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Jacksonville split most clearly. Jacksonville scores 111 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia 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 crime gap is citywide. Jacksonville has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Jacksonville are 759 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $68 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $7,919 (13%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 150 in Jacksonville, down 111 points (43%).
The move
Jacksonville and Philadelphia are 759 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $68 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $7,919 (11%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 261 in Philadelphia, up 111 points (74%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 5% cheaper than Jacksonville
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so Philadelphia is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $68, or $816 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
13% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 13% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Jacksonville (about $7,919 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, Jacksonville is the stronger labor market on paper. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
43% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 43% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Jacksonville weather is 20% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Jacksonville
Winner79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°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 20% 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia 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 13% higher ($69,872), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 79°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 43% lower than Philadelphia (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
Philadelphia carries the heavier crime signal on this page (31/100 safety vs 48/100 in Jacksonville). That 17-point spread matters more than the $68 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (48/100 in Jacksonville vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
If safety drives your move, Jacksonville is the stronger match (48/100 safety versus 31/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Philadelphia, treat $1,397/month rent and $61,953 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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