Jacksonville, Florida, and Sacramento, California, are two unique cities that offer varying lifestyles. Each city has its strengths and weaknesses with significant differences in factors like cost of living, crime rates, weather, and cultural experiences. If you are considering a relocation or visiting, gaining an understanding of the nuances and dynamics of each city can help inform your decision. Our holistic comparison offers insights ranging from infrastructure to health care, honing in on distinct attributes for each city.
Distance between
Jacksonville, FL and
Sacramento, CA : 2,319.4 miles
Jacksonville's population is larger by 82%. Its population has grown by 218,997 people (29.8%) since 2000. The population of Sacramento has grown by 118,023 people (29.0%) during that time.
Jacksonville’s crime rate sits above the national average, an aspect to be considered when relocating or visiting. However, certain neighborhoods are relatively safer, with less crime incidence. Contrarily, Sacramento's crime rate is lower than Jacksonville but above the national average. In both cities, precautions should be taken, particularly at night.
Cost of Living
Generally, Jacksonville carries a lower cost of living in comparison to Sacramento. This includes housing, groceries, and transportation. Sacramento's cost of living is relatively high, largely due to the high cost of housing in the city and throughout California.
Income Tax
Florida, including Jacksonville, has no state income tax which might appeal to higher earners. On the contrary, California has some of the highest state income taxes in the U.S., meaning Sacramento residents will pay more in income tax relative to Jacksonville residents.
Property Tax
While property taxes can vary based on specific location and property value, generally the property tax in Jacksonville is lower than in Sacramento. This difference can have a significant impact on homeownership costs in these cities.
Sales Tax
Florida has a state sales tax rate of 6%, with Jacksonville adding no city sales tax. Sacramento residents experience a higher combined sales tax (state, county, and city) rate of approximately 8.75%.
Income
Type
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Estimated median household income
$58,621
$75,311
Estimated per capita income
$32,953
$37,916
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
88.3
102.9
If you make $50,000 in Jacksonville, you will have to make $58,267 in Sacramento to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Geographically, Jacksonville is flat with scenic beaches lining the Atlantic coast. On the other hand, Sacramento is in the California Central Valley, between the coast and the mountains, offering a diverse range of nearby outdoor activities.
Both cities have a myriad of public and private schools. However, California’s system for funding public education has historically been more generous. This is reflected in better teacher-to-student ratios in Sacramento. Also notable are several prestigious universities near Sacramento like UC Davis.
While both cities have diverse economies, Jacksonville leans heavily towards the services, finance, and logistics industries. Sacramento's economy revolves around healthcare, education, and government services as it’s the state capital of California. Both cities have an unemployment rate close to the national average.
Biggest Employers
Jacksonville's largest employers include the United States Navy, the city government, and Duval County Public Schools. In Sacramento, the State of California, Sacramento County, and the Sacramento City Unified School District are the biggest employers.
There were 1,310 building permits issued in Jacksonville in 2012 (353 more than in 2011) compared to 1,004 building permits issued in Sacramento in 2012 (943 more than in 2011).
In Jacksonville (Duval County), 47.9% voted for Democrats and 51.5% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Sacramento (Sacramento County), 58.1% voted for Democrats and 39.1% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Jacksonville
Sacramento
2020
51.3%
61.4%
47.5%
36.1%
1.2%
2.5%
2016
47.2%
58.0%
48.6%
33.8%
4.2%
8.3%
2012
47.9%
58.1%
51.5%
39.1%
0.6%
2.8%
2008
49.0%
58.4%
51.0%
39.4%
0.0%
2.2%
2004
41.7%
49.8%
57.9%
49.6%
0.3%
0.6%
2000
40.9%
49.4%
57.7%
45.4%
1.4%
5.2%
1996
44.2%
49.8%
50.0%
40.8%
5.8%
9.4%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Jacksonville
Sacramento
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
15.8%
1.7%
22.3%
8.6%
CATHOLIC CHURCH
9.0%
16.2%
2.8%
5.1%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.2%
0.3%
2.3%
1.4%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.7%
0.9%
0.6%
1.3%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.3%
0.5%
0.9%
1.8%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.3%
0.6%
1.4%
2.1%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.1%
0.4%
0.2%
1.7%
NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST CONFERENCE
0.0%
0.6%
0.0%
2.2%
Weather
Florida's weather, including Jacksonville, is typically warm throughout the year with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Sacramento experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. This difference could significantly influence one's preference for either city considering personal comfortability with certain weather conditions.
Weather and climate
Type
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Temperature - Average
68.3°F
62.2°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
78.4%
66.8%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
44%
58%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
92%
87%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
48%
29%
Precipitation - Yearly average
51.8 in
19 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
0 in
0 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
15.8%
31.5%
Sunshine amount - Average
69.6%
83.6%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
16%
52%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
74%
97%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
58%
45%
Wind speed - Average
7.2 mph
6.8 mph
Average climate in Jacksonville, Florida
Average climate in Sacramento, California
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Sacramento
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Sacramento
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Jacksonville
Sacramento
2018
78
121
N/A
0.32
9.7
N/A
24.5
24.7
N/A
0.002
28.9
N/A
7.1
12.7
N/A
N/A
2017
74
117
N/A
0.33
9.0
N/A
24.7
25.2
N/A
0.002
22.1
N/A
5.8
8.8
0.7
N/A
2016
65
103
0.50
0.44
8.0
N/A
24.9
25.3
N/A
0.002
14.0
N/A
5.2
9.0
0.4
N/A
2015
63
105
0.35
0.25
9.7
N/A
25.4
24.9
N/A
0.002
16.2
N/A
4.9
10.9
0.3
N/A
2014
66
99
0.27
0.24
10.2
N/A
24.3
24.9
N/A
0.002
15.6
N/A
5.9
9.6
0.7
N/A
2013
68
102
0.18
0.29
11.1
N/A
23.0
23.2
N/A
0.002
21.3
N/A
5.3
11.9
0.7
N/A
2012
66
107
0.10
0.31
10.5
N/A
24.0
25.2
N/A
0.002
15.2
N/A
5.8
7.9
0.6
N/A
2011
88
106
0.28
0.29
11.2
N/A
26.6
24.0
N/A
0.002
17.7
N/A
8.1
10.8
0.8
N/A
2010
77
109
0.31
0.29
11.2
N/A
26.4
22.8
N/A
N/A
16.9
N/A
7.1
9.3
0.8
0.5
2009
72
118
0.16
0.40
12.4
N/A
25.0
23.3
N/A
0.003
20.6
N/A
8.5
11.4
0.6
0.5
2008
75
130
0.15
0.40
14.9
N/A
27.6
25.4
N/A
N/A
24.3
N/A
10.0
13.6
0.9
0.5
2007
92
129
0.29
0.39
14.8
N/A
28.4
23.7
N/A
0.005
19.9
N/A
11.4
13.5
1.2
0.6
2006
87
124
0.35
0.49
15.4
N/A
29.0
22.7
N/A
N/A
23.7
N/A
10.8
13.0
1.4
0.5
2005
93
125
0.42
0.42
15.9
N/A
26.5
20.0
N/A
N/A
22.1
N/A
12.2
13.5
1.8
0.6
2004
92
119
0.40
0.49
15.8
N/A
25.2
19.1
N/A
N/A
22.7
N/A
12.4
13.3
1.4
0.6
2003
55
119
0.43
0.47
16.8
N/A
21.6
20.3
N/A
N/A
23.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.6
0.9
2002
59
114
0.49
0.50
18.1
N/A
22.2
21.2
0.003
0.004
25.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.7
1.5
2001
74
111
0.49
0.43
18.0
N/A
24.0
21.2
0.009
0.004
20.7
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.5
1.4
2000
85
107
0.52
0.55
17.9
N/A
25.1
19.5
0.017
0.004
19.1
N/A
N/A
N/A
3.0
1.4
Natural disasters
Type
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
75.2%
8.8%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
18.1%
7,798.9%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
24%
18%
Transportation
While both cities offer public transit systems, both cities are spread out, making car ownership almost a necessity. Jacksonville's JTA and Sacramento's SacRT offer bus and light rail services, but frequencies may be limited in certain areas.
Transport
Type
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
1
3
FAA registered aircraft
566
414
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
34
20
Means of transportation to work
Type
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Bicycle
0.2%
1.1%
Bus
1.1%
1%
Carpooled
9%
12%
Car alone
86.5%
80%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.2%
Railroad
0%
0.4%
Taxicab
0.2%
0.1%
Walked
1.2%
2.8%
Average travel time to work
Type
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Average
27.5 min
28.5 min
Other means
25 min
22.8 min
Public transportation
43.7 min
39 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Average
1.1
1.2
Drove alone
89.4%
88.5%
In 2 person carpool
8%
9.4%
In 3 person carpool
1.7%
1.2%
In 4 person carpool
0.7%
0.4%
In 5-6 person carpool
0%
0.5%
In 7+ person carpool
0.2%
0%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate in Jacksonville is generally more affordable than in Sacramento which has seen significant growth in housing costs in recent years as more people move into the state of California.
Neighborhoods
Jacksonville boasts diverse neighborhoods, from beachfront communities to urban living areas. Sacramento is known for its well-kept historic neighborhoods and its riverside properties.
Houses and residents
Type
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Houses
422,315
210,715
Average household size (people)
2.5
2.6
Median year apartment built
1985
1977
Median year house/condo built
1987
1978
Length of stay in the house since moving in
12.5 years
12.8 years
Houses occupied
386,283 (91.5%)
202,093 (95.9%)
Houses occupied by owners
226,429 (58.6%)
103,994 (51.5%)
Houses occupied by renters
159,854 (41.4%)
98,099 (48.5%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,444
$976.09
Median monthly housing costs
$1,154
$1,558
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$260,045
$398,191
Estimated median house or condo value
$239,400
$449,600
Median numbers of rooms
5.6
5
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.3
4.1
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.3
5.8
Median house price - detached houses
$282,276
$496,462
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$177,341
$630,561
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$144,947
$205,310
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$220,508
$382,635
Median house price - mobile homes
$87,589
$104,325
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$213,709
$463,571
Median house price - All housing units
$266,926
$481,210
Median house age
36
44
Renting percentage
38.3%
50.6%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
557.4
2,168.8
House value disparities
33.2%
25.5%
Household income disparities
44.2%
44%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$83,160
$109,432
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$59,777
$82,443
Housing units without a mortgage
2,439 (1.6%)
1,166 (1.6%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
8,460 (5.5%)
4,385 (6.1%)
Housing units with a mortgage
150,468 (98.4%)
70,415 (98.4%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
255 (0.2%)
204 (0.3%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
11,378 (7.4%)
5,362 (7.5%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
10
10
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
3
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.5%
1.2%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
1.4%
0.3%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Jacksonville
Sacramento
One, detached
59.4%
61.7%
One, attached
6.1%
6.8%
Two
2.1%
1.8%
3 or 4
5.3%
4.8%
5 to 9
5.0%
6.9%
10 to 19
7.9%
4.9%
20 to 49
4.9%
3.5%
50 or more
5.3%
7.6%
Mobile homes
3.8%
1.9%
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
12,891
State government workers
13,692
40,274
Unpaid family workers
1,066
755
Industries and Occupations
Jacksonville's leading industries are health care, finance, and logistics. In contrast, the leading industries in Sacramento are government, healthcare, and education. Both cities offer a wide range of jobs but those in specialized fields may find more opportunities in the city that aligns with their industry.
Both Jacksonville and Sacramento have high-quality medical facilities. Jacksonville is home to the Mayo Clinic, one of the top medical institutions in the country. Sacramento has UC Davis Health, a nationally-recognized hospital.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Jacksonville
Sacramento
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Jacksonville has increased its infrastructure spending in recent years which has resulted in road improvements and the construction of new public buildings. Sacramento's infrastructure is robust with frequent improvements such as upgrades to its levee system to prevent flooding and renovations of historic buildings.
Infrastructure
Type
Jacksonville
Sacramento
Hospitals
25
17
TV stations
17
23
Arenas or stadiums
2
1
Bank branches located here
191
127
Bank institutions located here
31
31
Main business address for public companies
23
5
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
20
26
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Jacksonville
Sacramento
1999
5,422
1,003
2000
4,132
1,155
2001
3,038
983
2002
2,017
1,197
2003
3,563
2,258
2004
4,781
3,872
2005
7,134
4,610
2006
8,812
4,276
2007
5,298
2,386
2008
1,719
1,381
2009
676
647
Culture and Food
Jacksonville is known for its southern charm and offers a diverse food scene, including seafood from the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Sacramento, often referred to as the “Farm-to-Fork Capital,” is known nationally for its high-quality, locally-sourced food.
Sports Teams
Jacksonville is home to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, while Sacramento houses NBA’s Sacramento Kings. Both cities have minor league and collegiate sports, providing plentiful entertainment for sports enthusiasts.
Jacksonville, FL
Sacramento, CA
Jacksonville, FL and 
Sacramento, CA : 2,319.4 miles
