When comparing life in Jacksonville, Florida, and Plano, Texas, several areas surface for comparison. These areas include crime and safety, geographical conditions, weather, cost of living, and more. Considering the specifics of each area helps to create a holistic view of what it would be like to live or visit these cities.
Distance between
Jacksonville, FL and
Plano, TX : 905.9 miles
Jacksonville's population is larger by 231%. Its population has grown by 218,997 people (29.8%) since 2000. The population of Plano has grown by 66,223 people (29.8%) during that time.
Jacksonville's crime rate is higher than the national average, while Plano has one of the lowest in the country, making it safer. Jacksonville's higher crime rate may be attributed to its diverse neighborhoods and large population. Both cities have police departments actively working to reduce crime rates. Tourists in both cities should use common sense for safety, as in any other city.
Cost of Living
While both cities have higher living costs than the national average, Jacksonville's cost of living is generally lower than Plano's. Categories such as housing, utility bills, and transportation costs tend to be higher in Plano. However, healthcare costs are slightly lower in Plano compared to Jacksonville.
Income Tax
Both Jacksonville, Florida, and Plano, Texas, enjoy the benefits of their respective states not imposing a state income tax. This is a plus for residents who earn their income within the state's boundaries.
Property Tax
Property tax rates in Texas are among the highest in the U.S., making property taxes higher in Plano compared to Jacksonville. Florida has one of the lowest property tax rates in the country, which can be an advantage for homeowners in Jacksonville.
Sales Tax
Florida does not have a state income tax, which makes Jacksonville advantageous in this regard. Texas also does not have a state income tax, placing Plano on equal footing. However, the sales tax is slightly higher in Jacksonville compared to Plano.
Income
Type
Jacksonville
Plano
Estimated median household income
$58,621
$95,002
Estimated per capita income
$32,953
$49,792
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
88.3
96.2
If you make $50,000 in Jacksonville, you will have to make $54,473 in Plano to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Jacksonville is coastal and has excellent beach access, with a large river running through the city. Plano is landlocked and characterized by flat terrain and a low risk of natural disasters compared to coastal areas.
Plano is known for its excellent educational opportunities. The Plano Independent School District consistently ranks among the top in Texas. On the other side, Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville offer a variety of educational programs but have mixed performance ratings. Both cities host several higher education institutions.
Both cities have strong economies with ample job opportunities. In Jacksonville, the sectors of healthcare, finance, and logistics are particularly robust. Plano boasts a flourishing tech sector, with many large corporations having headquarters or regional offices in the city.
Biggest Employers
In Jacksonville, some of the most significant employers are Baptist Health, Bank of America, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville. In Plano, big names like Capital One Finance, Toyota Motor North America, and JCPenney are some of the city's biggest employers.
There were 1,310 building permits issued in Jacksonville in 2012 (353 more than in 2011) compared to 321 building permits issued in Plano in 2012 (28 less than in 2011).
In Jacksonville (Duval County), 47.9% voted for Democrats and 51.5% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Plano (Collin County), 33.6% voted for Democrats and 65.2% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Jacksonville
Plano
Jacksonville
Plano
Jacksonville
Plano
2020
51.3%
47.1%
47.5%
51.4%
1.2%
1.5%
2016
47.2%
39.0%
48.6%
55.7%
4.2%
5.4%
2012
47.9%
33.6%
51.5%
65.2%
0.6%
1.2%
2008
49.0%
36.7%
51.0%
62.3%
0.0%
1.0%
2004
41.7%
28.2%
57.9%
71.3%
0.3%
0.6%
2000
40.9%
24.5%
57.7%
73.2%
1.4%
2.3%
1996
44.2%
28.5%
50.0%
63.0%
5.8%
8.5%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Jacksonville
Plano
Jacksonville
Plano
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
15.8%
10.1%
22.3%
29.1%
CATHOLIC CHURCH
9.0%
14.2%
2.8%
1.6%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.2%
0.2%
2.3%
1.0%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.7%
2.9%
0.6%
1.9%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.3%
0.3%
0.9%
1.0%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.3%
0.8%
0.7%
1.4%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.3%
0.1%
1.4%
0.8%
Weather
In Jacksonville, the weather is subtropical with hot summers and mild winters. The city averages more than 220 sunny days per year. On the contrary, Plano has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild to cold winters. It has a higher average of sunny days at around 230 per year.
Weather and climate
Type
Jacksonville
Plano
Temperature - Average
68.3°F
64.2°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
78.4%
71.3%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
44%
34%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
92%
82%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
48%
48%
Precipitation - Yearly average
51.8 in
40.2 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
0 in
4.2 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
15.8%
22.8%
Sunshine amount - Average
69.6%
66.6%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
16%
20%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
74%
74%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
58%
54%
Wind speed - Average
7.2 mph
10.3 mph
Average climate in Jacksonville, Florida
Average climate in Plano, Texas
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM25
SO2
Year
Jacksonville
Plano
Jacksonville
Plano
Jacksonville
Plano
Jacksonville
Plano
Jacksonville
Plano
Jacksonville
Plano
2018
78
85
N/A
N/A
5.8
N/A
24.5
30.1
N/A
N/A
7.1
9.7
N/A
0.4
2017
74
84
N/A
N/A
5.8
N/A
24.7
31.4
N/A
N/A
5.8
9.1
0.7
0.3
2016
65
77
0.50
N/A
6.4
N/A
24.9
29.9
N/A
N/A
5.2
8.4
0.4
0.2
2015
63
84
0.35
N/A
7.2
N/A
25.4
30.0
N/A
N/A
4.9
8.9
0.3
0.3
2014
66
83
0.27
N/A
6.1
N/A
24.3
30.9
N/A
N/A
5.9
9.9
0.7
0.3
2013
68
95
0.18
N/A
7.0
N/A
23.0
32.2
N/A
N/A
5.3
13.0
0.7
0.2
2012
66
112
0.10
N/A
8.5
N/A
24.0
34.3
N/A
N/A
5.8
12.0
0.6
0.3
2011
88
98
0.28
N/A
9.1
N/A
26.6
33.9
N/A
N/A
8.1
11.9
0.8
0.6
2010
77
78
0.31
N/A
9.7
N/A
26.4
30.8
N/A
N/A
7.1
N/A
0.8
0.7
2009
72
86
0.16
N/A
9.6
N/A
25.0
31.5
N/A
N/A
8.5
N/A
0.6
0.5
2008
75
82
0.15
N/A
9.9
N/A
27.6
32.3
N/A
0.121
10.0
N/A
0.9
0.5
2007
92
89
0.29
N/A
10.3
N/A
28.4
29.7
N/A
0.070
11.4
N/A
1.2
0.3
2006
87
103
0.35
N/A
10.5
N/A
29.0
33.7
N/A
0.106
10.8
N/A
1.4
0.7
2005
93
105
0.42
N/A
13.2
N/A
26.5
32.6
N/A
0.142
12.2
11.0
1.8
0.9
2004
92
92
0.40
N/A
11.8
N/A
25.2
29.2
N/A
0.099
12.4
N/A
1.4
0.8
2003
55
100
0.43
N/A
13.9
N/A
21.6
30.3
N/A
0.121
N/A
N/A
1.6
1.0
2002
59
96
0.49
N/A
14.3
N/A
22.2
29.1
0.003
0.080
N/A
N/A
1.7
0.4
2001
74
99
0.49
N/A
12.8
N/A
24.0
30.6
0.009
0.069
N/A
N/A
2.5
1.0
2000
85
107
0.52
N/A
14.5
N/A
25.1
31.7
0.017
0.092
N/A
N/A
3.0
1.1
Natural disasters
Type
Jacksonville
Plano
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
75.2%
252.9%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
18.1%
596.9%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
24%
14%
Transportation
Both cities have public transportation options, with Jacksonville's system offering buses and a 'Skyway' monorail. Plano provides bus services and light rail transportation through Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Traffic is typically heavier in Jacksonville due to its size and population.
Transport
Type
Jacksonville
Plano
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
1
1
FAA registered aircraft
566
266
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
34
11
Means of transportation to work
Type
Jacksonville
Plano
Bicycle
0.2%
0.1%
Bus
1.1%
0.4%
Carpooled
9%
7.8%
Car alone
86.5%
89.2%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.1%
Taxicab
0.2%
0%
Walked
1.2%
1.2%
Average travel time to work
Type
Jacksonville
Plano
Average
27.5 min
28.8 min
Other means
25 min
28.4 min
Public transportation
43.7 min
59 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Jacksonville
Plano
Average
1.1
1.1
Drove alone
89.4%
89.9%
In 2 person carpool
8%
8.8%
In 3 person carpool
1.7%
0.8%
In 4 person carpool
0.7%
0.2%
In 5-6 person carpool
0%
0.2%
In 7+ person carpool
0.2%
0%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate prices in Plano are significantly higher than in Jacksonville, reflecting the overall higher cost of living. Plano has seen a real estate boom in recent years due to the influx of companies and job growth. Jacksonville has more affordable housing options and a wider range of property types.
Neighborhoods
Jacksonville offers a mix of urban and suburban feel neighborhoods, from the artistic vibe of Riverside to the beach-community feel of Jacksonville Beach. Plano is known for its residential neighborhoods that feature a range of housing styles and are family-friendly, such as West Plano and Historic Downtown Plano.
Houses and residents
Type
Jacksonville
Plano
Houses
422,315
114,797
Average household size (people)
2.5
2.6
Median year apartment built
1985
1996
Median year house/condo built
1987
1990
Length of stay in the house since moving in
12.5 years
13 years
Houses occupied
386,283 (91.5%)
108,472 (94.5%)
Houses occupied by owners
226,429 (58.6%)
60,883 (56.1%)
Houses occupied by renters
159,854 (41.4%)
47,589 (43.9%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,444
$1,491
Median monthly housing costs
$1,154
$1,599
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$260,045
$1,044,402
Estimated median house or condo value
$239,400
$387,200
Median numbers of rooms
5.6
6.1
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.3
4
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.3
7.6
Median house price - detached houses
$282,276
$447,315
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$177,341
$154,744
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$144,947
$260,615
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$220,508
$210,357
Median house price - mobile homes
$87,589
$112,806
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$213,709
$325,999
Median house price - All housing units
$266,926
$437,302
Median house age
36
28
Renting percentage
38.3%
37%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
557.4
1,604.1
House value disparities
33.2%
23.4%
Household income disparities
44.2%
41.5%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$83,160
$134,911
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$59,777
$110,429
Housing units without a mortgage
2,439 (1.6%)
744 (2%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
8,460 (5.5%)
1,681 (4.4%)
Housing units with a mortgage
150,468 (98.4%)
37,102 (98%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
255 (0.2%)
86 (0.2%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
11,378 (7.4%)
2,508 (6.6%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
10
13
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
1
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.5%
1.9%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
1.4%
0%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Jacksonville
Plano
One, detached
59.4%
60.2%
One, attached
6.1%
3.5%
Two
2.1%
0.8%
3 or 4
5.3%
3.0%
5 to 9
5.0%
7.3%
10 to 19
7.9%
9.1%
20 to 49
4.9%
3.2%
50 or more
5.3%
12.1%
Mobile homes
3.8%
0.8%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.2%
0.0%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
19,601
7,541
State government workers
13,692
4,098
Unpaid family workers
1,066
57
Industries and Occupations
Jacksonville's largest industries include healthcare, transportation, and finance, while Plano leans heavily towards technology, finance, and retail. Jacksonville offers many opportunities in the logistics industry due to its prime location along the Atlantic coastline. Plano, being a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, offers a variety of jobs in sectors like IT, retail, and finance.
High-quality healthcare is available in both cities. Jacksonville is home to the highly-rated Mayo Clinic and several other high-quality medical facilities. Plano boasts the Medical Center of Plano and several other highly rated healthcare facilities.
Jacksonville's infrastructure is known for being more spread out and difficult to navigate for newcomers. Plano's infrastructure, in contrast, is quite organized and easy to get around, even for visitors. Both cities are investing in improving and expanding their infrastructures.
Infrastructure
Type
Jacksonville
Plano
Hospitals
25
15
TV stations
17
25
Bank branches located here
191
115
Bank institutions located here
31
42
Main business address for public companies
23
17
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
20
0
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Jacksonville
Plano
1999
5,422
825
2000
4,132
258
2001
3,038
199
2002
2,017
204
2003
3,563
655
2004
4,781
921
2005
7,134
1,145
2006
8,812
1,104
2007
5,298
750
2008
1,719
384
2009
676
213
Culture and Food
Jacksonville offers a diverse culinary scene and plenty of cultural experiences, including museums, music festivals, and art walks. Plano is known for its Tex-Mex and BBQ cuisine and also has a burgeoning arts scene.
Sports Teams
For sports fans, Jacksonville is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, an NFL team. Plano, being part of the Dallas metroplex, has access to a host of sports, including the Dallas Cowboys (NFL), Texas Rangers (MLB), and Dallas Mavericks (NBA).
Jacksonville, FL
Plano, TX
Jacksonville, FL and 
Plano, TX : 905.9 miles
