When weighing the pros and cons of living or visiting Jacksonville, FL versus Southeast Montgomery, TX, various factors come into play. Jacksonville is a coastal city with a more urban atmosphere, while Southeast Montgomery has a rural charm combined with the amenities of nearby Houston. To aid decision-making, we will consider facets such as crime and safety, weather, cost of living, education, work and economy, infrastructure, and other essential aspects.
Jacksonville's crime rate is higher than the national average, which can be a concern for potential residents or visitors. Police presence is visible in areas like Downtown, Southside, and Riverside. Southeast Montgomery, on the other hand, boasts a lower crime rate, as it falls within the decently safe suburban area surrounding The Woodlands and Houston.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Jacksonville is lower than the national average, with housing being the biggest factor contributing to the savings. Southeast Montgomery, being part of the Houston Metropolitan Area, has a somewhat higher living cost, mainly driven by housing and transportation expenses.
Income Tax
Florida, including Jacksonville, has no state income tax, making it attractive for high-earners. Texas, too, lacks an income tax, making Southeast Montgomery equally appealing.
Property Tax
Both states' residents experience high property taxes, but rates can differ. Jacksonville property tax rates can vary depending on the area. In Southeast Montgomery, property tax rates remain high due to Texas's lack of a state income tax.
Sales Tax
Florida has a 6% sales tax, with Jacksonville adding a 1% discretionary sales surtax. Texas has a 6.25% sales tax, but unlike Jacksonville, Southeast Montgomery does not have an additional local sales tax.
Income
Type
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Estimated median household income
$58,621
$85,955
Estimated per capita income
$32,953
$42,611
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
88.3
101.8
If you make $50,000 in Jacksonville, you will have to make $57,644 in Southeast Montgomery to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Jacksonville boasts coastal geography, with numerous beaches and the St. John's River. Southeast Montgomery has a mostly flat terrain with nearby Lake Woodlands for boating and fishing.
Geographical information
Type
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Land area
757.7 sq. miles
483.9 sq. miles
Population density
1,259.9 people per sq. mile
596.7 people per sq. mile
Relative area comparison
Jacksonville, FL Southeast Montgomery, TX
Education
Both Jacksonville and Southeast Montgomery have reputable schools. Jacksonville's Duval County Public Schools is the 20th largest school district in the nation, offering various educational options. In Southeast Montgomery, top-rated Conroe Independent School District serves students offering ample opportunities.
Jacksonville's economy is diversified with sectors like banking, logistics, and healthcare providing significant employment. Southeast Montgomery, on the other hand, relies on Houston's robust economy lead by oil and gas, aeronautics, and healthcare industries.
Biggest Employers
In Jacksonville, largest employers include Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Mayo Clinic, and Bank of America. Southeast Montgomery boasts employers such as ExxonMobil, The Woodlands Resort, and Anadarko Petroleum borrowed from the Houston area.
In Jacksonville (Duval County), 47.9% voted for Democrats and 51.5% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Southeast Montgomery (Montgomery County), 19.1% voted for Democrats and 79.9% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
2020
51.3%
27.5%
47.5%
71.4%
1.2%
1.2%
2016
47.2%
22.4%
48.6%
73.5%
4.2%
4.0%
2012
47.9%
19.1%
51.5%
79.9%
0.6%
1.0%
2008
49.0%
23.2%
51.0%
75.9%
0.0%
0.9%
2004
41.7%
21.4%
57.9%
78.2%
0.3%
0.4%
2000
40.9%
22.0%
57.7%
76.0%
1.4%
2.0%
1996
44.2%
26.5%
50.0%
65.2%
5.8%
8.3%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
15.8%
19.0%
22.3%
34.7%
CATHOLIC CHURCH
9.0%
12.8%
2.8%
1.2%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.2%
0.4%
2.3%
0.6%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.7%
2.2%
0.6%
1.2%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.3%
0.5%
0.9%
1.5%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.3%
0.3%
0.7%
1.2%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.3%
0.2%
1.4%
1.5%
Weather
Jacksonville, situated in North Florida, experiences a humid subtropical climate providing hot, humid summers and mild winters. It also faces hurricane threats during specific seasons. Southeast Montgomery, in contrast, offers a more stable climate, albeit hot in summers and lesser hurricane threats.
Weather and climate
Type
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Temperature - Average
68.3°F
68.1°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
78.4%
80.3%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
44%
36.9%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
92%
93%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
48%
56%
Precipitation - Yearly average
51.8 in
49.8 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
0 in
0.6 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
15.8%
15%
Sunshine amount - Average
69.6%
60.4%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
16%
24%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
74%
67%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
58%
43%
Wind speed - Average
7.2 mph
8.1 mph
Average climate in Jacksonville, Florida
Average climate in Southeast Montgomery, Texas
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM25
SO2
Year
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Jacksonville
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Jacksonville
2018
78
93
N/A
N/A
2.9
N/A
24.5
26.5
N/A
N/A
7.1
8.3
N/A
N/A
2017
74
92
N/A
N/A
3.1
N/A
24.7
27.5
N/A
N/A
5.8
8.6
0.7
N/A
2016
65
81
0.50
N/A
3.5
N/A
24.9
27.0
N/A
N/A
5.2
8.7
0.4
N/A
2015
63
93
0.35
N/A
3.4
N/A
25.4
26.0
N/A
N/A
4.9
9.2
0.3
N/A
2014
66
84
0.27
N/A
3.6
N/A
24.3
26.3
N/A
N/A
5.9
9.3
0.7
N/A
2013
68
100
0.18
N/A
3.2
N/A
23.0
27.6
N/A
N/A
5.3
9.7
0.7
N/A
2012
66
102
0.10
N/A
4.6
N/A
24.0
26.4
N/A
N/A
5.8
10.2
0.6
N/A
2011
88
113
0.28
N/A
5.0
N/A
26.6
29.5
N/A
N/A
8.1
10.9
0.8
N/A
2010
77
100
0.31
N/A
5.0
N/A
26.4
26.4
N/A
N/A
7.1
11.0
0.8
N/A
2009
72
106
0.16
N/A
4.9
N/A
25.0
25.9
N/A
N/A
8.5
10.9
0.6
N/A
2008
75
99
0.15
N/A
5.4
N/A
27.6
27.2
N/A
N/A
10.0
11.3
0.9
N/A
2007
92
115
0.29
N/A
5.9
N/A
28.4
25.3
N/A
N/A
11.4
11.4
1.2
N/A
2006
87
113
0.35
N/A
6.5
N/A
29.0
28.8
N/A
N/A
10.8
11.3
1.4
N/A
2005
93
120
0.42
N/A
6.9
N/A
26.5
29.2
N/A
N/A
12.2
12.8
1.8
N/A
2004
92
103
0.40
N/A
6.8
N/A
25.2
26.5
N/A
N/A
12.4
N/A
1.4
N/A
2003
55
115
0.43
N/A
7.4
N/A
21.6
26.4
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.6
N/A
2002
59
113
0.49
N/A
7.4
N/A
22.2
26.6
0.003
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.7
N/A
2001
74
133
0.49
N/A
7.5
N/A
24.0
25.8
0.009
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.5
N/A
2000
85
120
0.52
N/A
6.3
N/A
25.1
27.9
0.017
N/A
N/A
N/A
3.0
N/A
Natural disasters
Type
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
75.2%
174%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
18.1%
69.7%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
24%
30%
Transportation
Jacksonville offers several transportation options, including the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, which operates bus and rail services. Southeast Montgomery residents heavily rely on cars for commuting, with limited public transit options.
Transport
Type
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Amtrak stations
1
0
Amtrak stations nearby
1
0
FAA registered aircraft
566
0
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
34
0
Means of transportation to work
Type
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Bicycle
0.2%
0.2%
Bus
1.1%
1.4%
Carpooled
9%
13.6%
Car alone
86.5%
79.1%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.1%
Taxicab
0.2%
0%
Walked
1.2%
1.1%
Average travel time to work
Type
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Average
27.5 min
32 min
Real Estate
Jacksonville's real estate market offers diverse options, from beachfront condos to suburban single-family homes. Southeast Montgomery's real estate tends to be pricier, with homes in gated communities and on large properties being common.
Neighborhoods
Jacksonville's popular neighborhoods include Riverside, Avondale, and San Marco, each offering unique charms. Southeast Montgomery offers suburban living with neighborhoods like The Woodlands offering tranquil family-friendly environments.
Houses and residents
Type
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
Houses
422,315
77,705
Average household size (people)
2.5
2.8
Houses occupied
386,283 (91.5%)
72,515 (93.3%)
Houses occupied by owners
226,429 (58.6%)
53,683 (74%)
Houses occupied by renters
159,854 (41.4%)
18,832 (26%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,444
$1,329
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$260,045
$298,290
Estimated median house or condo value
$239,400
$288,981
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.3
4
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.3
6.8
Renting percentage
38.3%
30.6%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
557.4
160.6
Household income disparities
44.2%
43.3%
Housing units without a mortgage
2,439 (1.6%)
10,543 (25.7%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
8,460 (5.5%)
21 (0.1%)
Housing units with a mortgage
150,468 (98.4%)
30,480 (74.3%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
255 (0.2%)
1,769 (4.3%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
11,378 (7.4%)
1,550 (3.8%)
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.5%
1.1%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
19,601
6,391
State government workers
13,692
3,200
Unpaid family workers
1,066
296
Industries and Occupations
In Jacksonville, healthcare, finance, logistics and military are the leading sectors, while in Southeast Montgomery, the economy revolves around oil and gas, tech, healthcare, and construction, reflecting the broader spectrum of the Houston economy.
Both cities have excellent healthcare facilities. Jacksonville is home to top-rated hospitals like the Mayo Clinic, Baptist Health, and UF Health Jacksonville. In Southeast Montgomery, there's easy access to world-class healthcare facilities in The Woodlands and Houston, including Houston Methodist The Woodlands.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Jacksonville boasts well-developed infrastructure, offering international airports, seaports, and an extensive highway system. Southeast Montgomery relies heavily on the infrastructure of the nearby Houston Metropolitan Area, with access to a comprehensive road network and airports.
Infrastructure
Type
Jacksonville
Southeast Montgomery
TV stations
17
27
Culture and Food
Jacksonville offers a vibrant cultural scene with a blend of Southern charm and Florida fun. Its food scene reflects this with a mix of seafood, barbecue, and international cuisine. Southeast Montgomery, influenced by Houston, offers a diverse cultural and food scene, featuring everything from Southern comfort foods to international specialties.
Sports Teams
Jacksonville is home to the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. Southeast Montgomery residents typically cheer for Houston-based sports team such as the Houston Texans (NFL), the Houston Astros (MLB), and the Houston Rockets (NBA).
Jacksonville, FL
Southeast Montgomery, TX
Jacksonville, FL and 
Southeast Montgomery, TX : 817.9 miles
