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Living in Jacksonville, FL

Big city in Florida

Jacksonville is a big city in Florida, home to about 962,000 people, with 1.3 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Jacksonville a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 7 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Easy flying: JAX is 14 mi away
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $270k and rents for $2,040 a month
  • Low taxes: no state income tax, 0.77% property tax

👎 Cons

  • Few dog parks: 7 within 9 mi
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Smaller job market: about 1.3 million people live within 31 mi

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Jacksonville ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
962,000
1.3 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
67°F / 91°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$270k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,040/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
99
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 0.77% property tax
Safety
1.7× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
16 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, hurricanes
Top-rated hospitals
7
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
32%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
JAX
14 mi away

Living in Jacksonville: common questions

What is the cost of living in Jacksonville?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $270k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,040 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 99, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Jacksonville?

Florida has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 0.77% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Jacksonville safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.7× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Jacksonville?

Jacksonville is warm all year: winter days average around 67°F and summer days around 91°F.

Does Jacksonville get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and hurricanes: 16 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.35 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Jacksonville?

The nearest major airport is JAX, about 14 mi away.

How Jacksonville scores

Each bar compares Jacksonville with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Mid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Strong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Warm all year Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Anonymous AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Average
🛡️Safety Moderate crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Average
✈️Airport Excellent

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Is Jacksonville right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.