Is Jacksonville cheaper than Reno?

Yes. Typical rent in Jacksonville is $1,658 a month versus $1,870 in Reno — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $64,138 in Jacksonville compared with $73,073 in Reno, so Reno has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Jacksonville or Reno?

Jacksonville is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 117 in Reno — 41% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Jacksonville or Reno?

School composites are close: A- in Jacksonville and A- in Reno. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Jacksonville, FL vs Reno, NV

Jacksonville, FL versus Reno, NV is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,658 a month in Jacksonville and $1,870 in Reno, and median household income lands at $64,138 versus $73,073. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Jacksonville takes affordability and safety, while Reno takes job market and weather. The widest gap is crime index, where Jacksonville leads by 41% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Jacksonville can feel further apart than Jacksonville and Reno do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Jacksonville and Reno reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Jacksonville report Full Reno report

Jacksonville, FL

Rent: $1,658/mo
Median income: $64,138
Crime index: 69
Schools: A-
Weather: 87°F

Reno, NV

Rent: $1,870/mo
Median income: $73,073
Crime index: 117
Schools: A-
Weather: 80°F

Rent

11% cheaper

Jacksonville rent is 11% cheaper than Reno

Jacksonville

Winner

$1,658/mo

Reno

$1,870/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,658 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,870 in Reno, so Jacksonville is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,544 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Jacksonville still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Reno.

Median income

14% higher

Reno's median income is 14% higher than Jacksonville

Jacksonville

$64,138

Reno

Winner

$73,073

What this means for your life

Median household income is $73,073 in Reno versus $64,138 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Reno — about $8,935 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Reno is the stronger labor market on paper. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

41% lower crime

Jacksonville's crime index is 41% lower than Reno

Jacksonville

Winner

69 (100 = avg)

Reno

117 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Jacksonville's crime index is 69 versus 117 in Reno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% lower in Jacksonville. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Jacksonville is the easier city. Reno can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Jacksonville and Reno are about even on school scores.

Jacksonville

A- · 84/100

Reno

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Jacksonville, A- in Reno). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

29% more comfortable

Reno weather is 29% more comfortable than Jacksonville

Jacksonville

87°F typical

Reno

Winner

80°F typical

What this means for your life

Reno scores 29% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 87°F in Jacksonville and 80°F in Reno. Jacksonville reads as hot, long summers; Reno reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Reno is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Jacksonville can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Jacksonville

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,658 a month. Choose Jacksonville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 41% lower than Reno (69 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Jacksonville report →

Fit check

Who should choose Reno

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 14% higher ($73,073), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 80°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Reno report →

Bottom line

Jacksonville vs Reno, called

If safety is your priority, Jacksonville is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Reno pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Jacksonville offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Jacksonville vs Reno FAQ

Is Jacksonville cheaper than Reno?: Yes. Typical rent in Jacksonville is $1,658 a month versus $1,870 in Reno — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $64,138 in Jacksonville compared with $73,073 in Reno, so Reno has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Jacksonville or Reno?: Jacksonville is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 117 in Reno — 41% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Jacksonville or Reno?: School composites are close: A- in Jacksonville and A- in Reno. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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