Jacksonville, FL vs Tampa, FL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL | TampaTampa, FL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Safe | Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 1,287 people per square mile, Jacksonville, FL is far less densely populated than Tampa, FL, where the figure reaches 3,437 per square mile, a 2.7× higher density in Tampa. In 2023 Census figures, Jacksonville’s population of 961,739 is 2.4× larger than Tampa’s 393,389, yet Tampa’s per-capita income of $49,513 runs 33% higher than Jacksonville’s $37,269. The cost of living index also diverges: Tampa’s 134 sits 23% higher than Jacksonville’s 109, placing Tampa in the 70th percentile and Jacksonville in the 55th.
Housing costs show the widest gap, with Tampa’s median home value of $375,300 exceeding Jacksonville’s $266,100 by 41%, and Tampa’s median rent of $1,567 running 14% higher than Jacksonville’s $1,375. The comfortable income for a family of 4 in Tampa is $107,184, 41% higher than Jacksonville’s $75,997, while the single-person comfortable income follows the same pattern at $72,914 versus $51,699. Tampa’s bachelor’s degree attainment of 44.6% is 12.8 points higher than Jacksonville’s 31.8%, placing Tampa in the 73rd percentile compared to Jacksonville’s 49th.
Safety metrics also separate the two, as Jacksonville’s property crime rate of 2,302 per 100,000 is 2.4× higher than Tampa’s 967, with Jacksonville in the 83rd percentile and Tampa in the 31st. Violent crime runs 9% higher in Jacksonville at 339 per 100,000 versus Tampa’s 311, though Tampa’s traffic deaths of 26 per 100,000 are 29% higher than Jacksonville’s 20. Unemployment is nearly identical at 3.5% and 3.4%, and both cities share an air quality index of 50, a summer dew point around 73°F to 74°F, and an F grade for national disaster risk in the 2024 data.
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 | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 10955th pctl | 13470th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Jacksonville, FL 109; Tampa, FL 134; Tampa is 23% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $266,10047th pctl | $375,30068th pctl | Median home value: Jacksonville, FL $266,100; Tampa, FL $375,300; Tampa is 41% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,37562nd pctl | $1,56773rd pctl | Median rent: Jacksonville, FL $1,375; Tampa, FL $1,567; Tampa is 14% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $66,98141st pctl | $71,30248th pctl | Median household income: Jacksonville, FL $66,981; Tampa, FL $71,302; Tampa is 6% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $51,69947th pctl | $72,91469th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Jacksonville, FL $51,699; Tampa, FL $72,914; Tampa is 41% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $75,99747th pctl | $107,18469th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Jacksonville, FL $75,997; Tampa, FL $107,184; Tampa is 41% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Jacksonville, FL A-; Tampa, FL C+; Jacksonville is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Tampa needs about
$92,200
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 109 vs 134). 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 | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.5%43rd pctl | 3.4%39th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.2%55th pctl | +1.2%55th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $37,26948th pctl | $49,51376th pctl | Per-capita income: Jacksonville, FL $37,269; Tampa, FL $49,513; Tampa is 33% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 15.0%66th pctl | 15.9%70th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24.1 min55th pctl | 24.7 min59th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 13.5%64th pctl | 19.3%82nd pctl | Work from home: Jacksonville, FL 13.5%; Tampa, FL 19.3%; Tampa is 5.8 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 | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 33968th pctl | 31164th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Jacksonville, FL 339; Tampa, FL 311; Jacksonville is 9% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,30283rd pctl | 96731st pctl | Property crime per 100k: Jacksonville, FL 2,302; Tampa, FL 967; Jacksonville is 2.4 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Safe | About the same |
| 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 | Tampa, 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 | Clean | About the same |
| 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 | About the same |
| 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 | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 0 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Jacksonville, FL 0 mi; Tampa, FL 0 mi; Jacksonville is 4.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: Jacksonville, FL C; Tampa, FL F; Jacksonville is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 870 mi93rd pctl | 928 mi94th pctl | Distance to international border: Jacksonville, FL 870 mi; Tampa, FL 928 mi; Tampa is 7% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 0 mi0th pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 961,739100th pctl | 393,38998th pctl | Population: Jacksonville, FL 961,739; Tampa, FL 393,389; Jacksonville is 2.4 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,28738th pctl | 3,43782nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Jacksonville, FL 1,287; Tampa, FL 3,437; Tampa is 2.7 times higher. |
| Median age | 36.436th pctl | 35.630th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.8%49th pctl | 44.6%73rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Jacksonville, FL 31.8%; Tampa, FL 44.6%; Tampa is 12.8 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.450th pctl | 2.438th pctl | About the same |
More about Jacksonville's residents · Tampa'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 | TampaTampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+5 | D+5 |
| 2024 presidential | R +11.0 pts | D +7.0 pts |
Full politics data: Jacksonville · Tampa
Moving between Jacksonville and Tampa
- Median rent: $1,375 in Jacksonville, $1,567 in Tampa
- Median home value: $266,100 in Jacksonville, $375,300 in Tampa
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 109 in Jacksonville, 134 in Tampa
- Median household income: $66,981 in Jacksonville, $71,302 in Tampa
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $75,997 in Jacksonville, $107,184 in Tampa
- Unemployment: 3.5% in Jacksonville, 3.4% in Tampa
- Average commute: 24.1 min in Jacksonville, 24.7 min in Tampa
- Violent crime per 100k: 339 in Jacksonville, 311 in Tampa
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More places like Jacksonville and Tampa
- 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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