City Profile

Jacksonville, Florida

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Jacksonville, Florida, stands as the largest city by area in the contiguous United States, offering a unique blend of Southern charm, modern urban development, and expansive coastal access. Established in 1822 and named after Andrew Jackson, the city has evolved into a major economic and cultural hub in northeast Florida. Residents and newcomers are continually drawn to the area for its diverse neighborhoods, extensive park system, and a relatively accessible cost of living compared to other major Florida metropolitan areas.

About Florida

Florida, known as the "Sunshine State," offers a diverse character with a laid-back beach culture and vibrant city life, attracting a mix of residents including many transplants. Its economy, the fourth largest in the U.S. as of 2024, is driven by major industries such as tourism, real estate, agriculture, aerospace and aviation, financial services, and healthcare and life sciences. Living in Florida generally entails a cost of living slightly higher than the national average, though it varies by city, with an average annual cost around $50,689 per person. The climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters, with abundant sunshine year-round, fostering an outdoor-oriented lifestyle. Florida also boasts a tax-friendly environment with no state income tax.

971,319

Population

$64K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

63.7

Quality Score

How this 64/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 65 / 100	65.0	30%	19.5
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 96.0	48.8	25%	12.2
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $69,800 Income needed to live here: $52,000 Unemployment rate: 3.4%	75.1	20%	15.0
Growth	Population growth rate: 1.3% Job growth rate: 2.4%	62.8	15%	9.4
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 76 / 100	76.0	10%	7.6
Overall score				63.7

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 15 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Jacksonville generally hovers slightly below the national average, making it an attractive destination for families and young professionals alike. Housing costs, while rising due to recent population influxes, remain more affordable than in traditional South Florida hotspots like Miami or Orlando. Everyday expenses such as groceries, utilities, and transportation align closely with regional norms, though coastal neighborhoods typically command a notable premium.

Average Rent

$1,650/mo

Groceries

$420/mo

Transport

$130/mo

Utilities

$175/mo

Healthcare

$240/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$45.00

Cinema ticket

$13.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$25.00

Monthly groceries

$420.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$140.00

Income

Salary Insights

Jacksonville boasts a robust and diversified economy anchored by key sectors including financial services, logistics and distribution, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. Major employers such as the Navy, CSX Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, and Jacksonville University drive steady employment growth across the region. Additionally, the city's strategic port location and expanding infrastructure continue to attract new businesses and foster a resilient job market.

The average salary in Jacksonville is $64,000 per year. You would need approximately $52,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Healthcare +3.10% Financial Services +2.50% Professional and Business Services +2.20% Logistics and Transportation +2.80% Tourism and Hospitality +2.00%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

71°F

Avg Temp

☀️

90°F

Summer High

❄️

48°F

Winter Low

🌧️

40.80"

Annual Rain

💧

72.00%

Humidity

🌤️

234

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Transportation in Jacksonville is heavily car-dependent due to the city's vast geographic footprint, with most residents relying on personal vehicles and major arteries like I-95 and I-10. Public transit is provided by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), which operates buses and the automated Skyway monorail system in downtown. While walkability is high in specific dense districts like Five Points and San Marco, overall pedestrian infrastructure requires driving for most daily errands.

26 min

Avg Commute

38.00/10

Transit Score

45.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Extensive access to coastal beaches and outdoor recreation along the St. Johns River and Atlantic coastline

No state income tax in Florida, providing financial relief for workers and retirees

Housing affordability remains more favorable than major metropolitan areas in South Florida

Strong and diversified economy anchored by finance, logistics, and world-class healthcare

World-class medical facilities including a major campus of the Mayo Clinic

Drawbacks

High level of car dependency and heavy traffic congestion during peak commuting hours

Vulnerability to tropical storms and hurricanes during the Atlantic hurricane season

Sprawling geographic footprint results in lengthy transit times across the city

Public transportation options outside the urban core are limited

Summer months feature high humidity and sustained high temperatures

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Nearby Cities

Gainesville

Orlando

Lakeland

Tampa

Community Q&A

Questions about Jacksonville

What people ask about living in and moving to Jacksonville, Florida.

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Gathering the most common questions about Jacksonville…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.