Jacksonville, FL vs Orlando, FL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL | OrlandoOrlando, FL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | Same |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Safe | Moderate | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | High Risk | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 2,302 property crimes per 100,000 people, Jacksonville, FL records a rate 3.1× higher than Orlando, FL’s 736, placing Jacksonville in the 83rd percentile versus Orlando’s 20th in 2025 FBI data. Violent crime shows a similar gap: Jacksonville’s 339 per 100,000 is 2.0× higher than Orlando’s 167, with Jacksonville in the 68th percentile and Orlando in the 33rd. Both cities show rising five-year violent crime trends, and Jacksonville’s crime & safety grade of B exceeds Orlando’s C.
Air quality also diverges, with Jacksonville’s AQI of 50 sitting 22% higher than Orlando’s 41—Jacksonville in the 80th percentile, Orlando in the 42nd for 2024 EPA data. Population density reverses the pattern: Orlando’s 2,405 people per square mile is 87% higher than Jacksonville’s 1,287, putting Orlando in the 68th percentile and Jacksonville in the 38th. Educational attainment differs too, as 42.2% of Orlando adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher versus Jacksonville’s 31.8%, a 10.4-point gap (70th vs. 49th percentile).
Cost-of-living figures from 2023–2024 show Orlando consistently higher: the comfortable income for a family of 4 is $102,529 versus Jacksonville’s $75,997, and for a single person it’s $69,748 versus $51,699—both 35% higher in Orlando. Median home values follow at $359,000 versus $266,100 (35% higher), and median rent at $1,650 versus $1,375 (20% higher). Median household incomes remain close at $69,268 and $66,981, while per-capita income runs 13% higher in Orlando at $41,985 versus $37,269.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Orlando, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 10955th pctl | 13671st pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Jacksonville, FL 109; Orlando, FL 136; Orlando is 25% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $266,10047th pctl | $359,00066th pctl | Median home value: Jacksonville, FL $266,100; Orlando, FL $359,000; Orlando is 35% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,37562nd pctl | $1,65077th pctl | Median rent: Jacksonville, FL $1,375; Orlando, FL $1,650; Orlando is 20% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $66,98141st pctl | $69,26844th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $51,69947th pctl | $69,74867th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Jacksonville, FL $51,699; Orlando, FL $69,748; Orlando is 35% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $75,99747th pctl | $102,52967th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Jacksonville, FL $75,997; Orlando, FL $102,529; Orlando is 35% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Jacksonville, FL A-; Orlando, FL C+; Jacksonville is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Orlando needs about
$93,600
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 109 vs 136). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Orlando, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 3.3%34th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.2%55th pctl | +1.4%62nd pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $37,26948th pctl | $41,98562nd pctl | Per-capita income: Jacksonville, FL $37,269; Orlando, FL $41,985; Orlando is 13% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 15.0%66th pctl | 15.5%68th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24.1 min55th pctl | 26.7 min72nd pctl | Average commute: Jacksonville, FL 24.1 min; Orlando, FL 26.7 min; Orlando is 3 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 13.5%64th pctl | 15.1%70th pctl | Work from home: Jacksonville, FL 13.5%; Orlando, FL 15.1%; Orlando is 1.6 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Orlando, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 33968th pctl | 16733rd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Jacksonville, FL 339; Orlando, FL 167; Jacksonville is 2.0 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,30283rd pctl | 73620th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Jacksonville, FL 2,302; Orlando, FL 736; Jacksonville is 3.1 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Fair | Crime & safety: Jacksonville, FL B; Orlando, FL C; Jacksonville is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Orlando, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Sweaty | Sweaty | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Fair | Tap water: Jacksonville, FL A; Orlando, FL C+; Jacksonville is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | Homesteading potential: Jacksonville, FL A+; Orlando, FL A; Jacksonville is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Florida, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Florida →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Orlando, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Nearest large city: Jacksonville, FL 0 mi; Orlando, FL 0 mi; Jacksonville is higher (Orlando: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: Jacksonville, FL C; Orlando, FL D+; Jacksonville is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 870 mi93rd pctl | 993 mi95th pctl | Distance to international border: Jacksonville, FL 870 mi; Orlando, FL 993 mi; Orlando is 14% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 0 mi0th pctl | 41 mi20th pctl | Distance to coastline: Jacksonville, FL 0 mi; Orlando, FL 41 mi; Orlando is 41 mi higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Orlando, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 961,739100th pctl | 311,73298th pctl | Population: Jacksonville, FL 961,739; Orlando, FL 311,732; Jacksonville is 3.1 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,28738th pctl | 2,40568th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Jacksonville, FL 1,287; Orlando, FL 2,405; Orlando is 87% higher. |
| Median age | 36.436th pctl | 35.126th pctl | Median age: Jacksonville, FL 36.4; Orlando, FL 35.1; Jacksonville is 1.3 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.8%49th pctl | 42.2%70th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Jacksonville, FL 31.8%; Orlando, FL 42.2%; Orlando is 10.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.450th pctl | 2.450th pctl | About the same |
More about Jacksonville's residents · Orlando's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL | OrlandoOrlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+5 | D+4 |
| 2024 presidential | R +11.0 pts | D +3.0 pts |
Full politics data: Jacksonville · Orlando
Moving between Jacksonville and Orlando
- Median rent: $1,375 in Jacksonville, $1,650 in Orlando
- Median home value: $266,100 in Jacksonville, $359,000 in Orlando
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 109 in Jacksonville, 136 in Orlando
- Median household income: $66,981 in Jacksonville, $69,268 in Orlando
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $75,997 in Jacksonville, $102,529 in Orlando
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Jacksonville, 3.3% in Orlando
- Average commute: 24.1 min in Jacksonville, 26.7 min in Orlando
- Violent crime per 100k: 339 in Jacksonville, 167 in Orlando
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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