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Living in Jacksonville, NC

Small city in North Carolina

Jacksonville is a small city in North Carolina, home to about 74,000 people, with 167,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Jacksonville a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $252k and rents for $1,630 a month
  • Low taxes: about $1,615 state income tax per resident, 0.96% property tax
  • Mild summers: highs around 88°F

👎 Cons

  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Smaller job market: about 167,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer graduates: 25% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Few top-rated hospitals: no 4–5★ hospital 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
74,000
167,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
58°F / 88°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$252k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,630/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
92
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,615
State income tax per resident · 0.96% property tax
Safety
No data
Not in FBI 2019 city table
Natural disasters
10 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly hurricanes
Top-rated hospitals
0
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
25%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
RDU
112 mi away

Living in Jacksonville: common questions

What is the cost of living in Jacksonville?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $252k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,630 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 92, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Jacksonville?

North Carolina collects about $1,615 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.96% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Jacksonville safe?

Jacksonville isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.

What is the weather like in Jacksonville?

Jacksonville has mild winters: winter days average around 58°F and summer days around 88°F.

Does Jacksonville get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes: 10 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.88 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Jacksonville?

The nearest major airport is RDU, about 112 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 Small town Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature on the doorstep Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Mild winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Very affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Slow & calm Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Anonymous AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Good
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Poor
🎓Education Poor
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Below average
⛰️Outdoors Average
🎭Culture Poor
🛡️Safety No crime data (counted as average)
🌪️Few natural disasters Average
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Average

Places like Jacksonville

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

Nearby

See all the best places to live in North Carolina.

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.