Jacksonville receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Jacksonville
Opportunity
43 · Bottom 25%
vs51 · Bottom 42%
Growth
63 · Top 30%
vs63 · Top 29%
Climate
59 · Bottom 22%
vs80 · Top 5%
Physical resilience
44 · Bottom 34%
vs51 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
66 · Bottom 9%
vs74 · Bottom 16%
Access
95 · Top 15%
vs94 · Top 18%
Economic stability
75 · Top 19%
vs69 · Top 26%
Measured values
| Metric | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | Jacksonville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,028,754 | 1,683,960 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $88,301 | $79,643 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,239 | $43,752 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 345/sq mi | 526/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $440,900 | $343,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,702 | $1,513 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | 66.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.9% | -0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.3% | 36.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 11.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 34,635 | 11,883 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.9 | 7.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -17.2% | -14.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 107°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 47°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 7.2" | 47.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 17 mi | 18 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 27.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.9 | 39.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Jacksonville
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
64
Your Score
57
Area Score
Jacksonville
69
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metro Area · Jacksonville, FL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology