Relocation profile · Federal data
Jacksonville, FL
BEA RPP 99.5 ranks #293 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
- 99.5
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,103
- 2BR rent / mo
- $67,763
- Median salary
- 52.2
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Jacksonville ranks #180 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (52.2/100), with its strongest marks in climate and safety.
- #180
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 23,372,215
- metro-area population
- 210
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 4,029
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: schools (17/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Jacksonville ranks #180 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 99.5 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,103/mo, median salary $67,763; LiveAbility Score 52.2/100, strongest in climate and safety.
Signature: BEA RPP 99.5 ranks #293 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 99.5 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,103/mo.
LiveAbility 52.2/100 keeps Jacksonville in the middle third (#180 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Jacksonville area is 749,800.
Jacksonville vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
52 Top 47% higher than 53% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Jacksonville housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Jacksonville MSA; housing RPP 109.8 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,103/mo.
Jacksonville wages and employment
Jacksonville posts 749,800 total employment with median salary $67,763 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $34,360 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,470 |
| Registered Nurses | $83,520 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $41,040 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $42,840 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Jacksonville area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Jacksonville area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Jacksonville's composite Life Score is 58.9/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Jacksonville ranks #180 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 52.2/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Jacksonville - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Climate
Climate
88 /100
- Safety
Safety
87 /100
- Housing
Housing
80 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
58 /100
- Job market
Job market
57 /100
- Cost of living 24
Cost of living
24 /100
- Air quality 19
Air quality
19 /100
- Schools 17
Schools
17 /100
What this shows Jacksonville's strongest dimensions are climate and safety; its weakest among scored dims is schools at 17/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Jacksonville to
Metros near Jacksonville on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Jacksonville on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Jacksonville cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Jacksonville wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Jacksonville?
Jacksonville runs a $67,763 median salary at a 99.5 cost index, ranking #180 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Jacksonville's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Jacksonville head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Jacksonville
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.