Jacksonville vs Orlando
Compare Jacksonville, FL and Orlando, FL on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Jacksonville is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $1,315/mo versus $1,530/mo in Orlando — a gap of about $215/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,604/mo against $1,857/mo. Across the four public-data screens Orlando comes out ahead (266 vs 244 summed points), though Jacksonville still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 92°F and 92°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Jacksonville; if walkable daily life matters more, Orlando screens stronger on the walkability proxy (20 vs 16). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Orlando leads 79 to 71 on the work screen.
Orlando leads 58 to 50 on the daily life screen.
Orlando leads 62 to 58 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Jacksonville is roughly $85,000 in Orlando using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville | Orlando | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,315/mo | $1,530/mo | Jacksonville |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,604/mo | $1,857/mo | Jacksonville |
| Median home value | $281,000 | $308,000 | Jacksonville |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 31.6 min | Jacksonville |
| Safety score | 57/100 | 49/100 | Jacksonville |
| School score | 5/10 | 5/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 16/100 | 20/100 | Orlando |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 6/10 | Jacksonville |
| Restaurants per 100k | 187.0 | 198.4 | Orlando |
| Mountain distance | 278 mi | 398 mi | Jacksonville |
| Coast distance | 16 mi | 34 mi | Jacksonville |
What stands out
Jacksonville stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Trail access within 44 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Named beach within 16 miles
Jacksonville tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Orlando stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Trail access within 32 miles
Orlando tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Common questions
Is Jacksonville cheaper than Orlando?
On public benchmarks Jacksonville is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,315/mo in Jacksonville vs $1,530/mo in Orlando; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,604/mo vs $1,857/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Jacksonville or Orlando safer?
Jacksonville screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 57/100 for Jacksonville and 49/100 for Orlando (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Jacksonville or Orlando?
School screens show 5/10 for Jacksonville vs 5/10 for Orlando, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Jacksonville and Orlando?
Jacksonville: summer highs near 92°F, winter lows near 42°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Orlando: 92°F / 49°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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