Jacksonville, FL, and Tucson, AZ, are two unique American cities with each offering their distinctive attractions and challenges regarding cost of living, crime rate, weather, education system, economic status, and outdoor activities. The subtropical climate of Jacksonville contrasts sharply with the arid desert setting of Tucson. The cost of living and job opportunities differ significantly in each city. Understanding these factors is pivotal for someone planning to relocate or tourists seeking to explore, as it provides a comprehensive perspective of what each city offers.
Distance between
Jacksonville, FL and
Tucson, AZ : 1,727.5 miles
Jacksonville's population is larger by 76%. Its population has grown by 218,997 people (29.8%) since 2000. The population of Tucson has grown by 56,543 people (11.6%) during that time.
It's significant to note that both Jacksonville and Tucson have crime rates that are higher than the national average. However, Jacksonville's crime rate is considerably higher than Tucson's. Despite these figures, many safe neighborhoods exist in both cities. It is advisable for potential residents or tourists to research specific neighborhoods before making a move or visit.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Jacksonville is slightly lower than the national average, which provides an advantage for those looking to move. Conversely, Tucson also boasts a lower-than-average cost of living however it is cheaper than Jacksonville. Both cities offer a more affordable lifestyle compared to other major US cities particularly for housing.
Income Tax
One advantage to living in Jacksonville is that Florida does not charge state income tax. Conversely, Arizona residents, including those in Tucson, are subject to state income tax, with rates ranging from 2.59% to 4.54% based on income levels.
Property Tax
Property taxes in Jacksonville are slightly higher than the national average, with the effective rate set at around 0.94%. However, in Tucson, homeowners are subject to higher property taxes, generally the effective rate being around 1.28%.
Sales Tax
Florida has a state sales tax of 6%, with Jacksonville adding no additional local sales tax. Arizona state sales tax is noticeably higher at 5.6%, but Tucson taps an additional 2.6%, making the total sales tax in Tucson 8.7%.
Income
Type
Jacksonville
Tucson
Estimated median household income
$58,621
$50,306
Estimated per capita income
$32,953
$27,821
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
88.3
90.1
If you make $50,000 in Jacksonville, you will have to make $51,019 in Tucson to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Geographically, Jacksonville is characterized by its coastal location, with many beaches and waterways, while Tucson is situated in the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by several mountain ranges.
Both cities host several reputable educational institutions. In Jacksonville, the Duval County Public Schools service the area, and the city houses campuses for the University of North Florida and Florida State College. Tucson is renowned as a college town, home to the prestigious University of Arizona, which greatly impacts the city's culture and economy.
Jacksonville's economy is diverse, with large sectors in banking, insurance, healthcare, and logistics. The city is a regional business center with many national and international corporations. Meanwhile, Tucson's economy is primarily driven by education, healthcare, and the military, particularly Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Biggest Employers
In Jacksonville, some of the biggest employers include Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Duval County Public Schools, and the City of Jacksonville. On the other hand, in Tucson, the University of Arizona, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and U.S. Army Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca, are the leading employers.
There were 1,310 building permits issued in Jacksonville in 2012 (353 more than in 2011) compared to 1,134 building permits issued in Tucson in 2012 (832 more than in 2011).
In Jacksonville (Duval County), 47.9% voted for Democrats and 51.5% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Tucson (Pima County), 52.7% voted for Democrats and 45.7% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Jacksonville
Tucson
Jacksonville
Tucson
Jacksonville
Tucson
2020
51.3%
58.4%
47.5%
39.8%
1.2%
1.7%
2016
47.2%
53.3%
48.6%
39.7%
4.2%
7.0%
2012
47.9%
52.7%
51.5%
45.7%
0.6%
1.6%
2008
49.0%
52.4%
51.0%
46.3%
0.0%
1.4%
2004
41.7%
52.7%
57.9%
46.7%
0.3%
0.6%
2000
40.9%
51.4%
57.7%
43.3%
1.4%
5.3%
1996
44.2%
52.2%
50.0%
39.4%
5.8%
8.5%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Jacksonville
Tucson
Jacksonville
Tucson
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
15.8%
2.3%
22.3%
10.4%
CATHOLIC CHURCH
9.0%
20.8%
2.8%
7.9%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1.2%
0.8%
2.3%
1.4%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.7%
0.0%
0.6%
0.2%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.3%
0.9%
0.9%
2.5%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
0.3%
0.4%
0.7%
1.4%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.3%
0.3%
1.4%
1.9%
Weather
Jacksonville's weather is typically warm and humid, reflecting its subtropical climate that offers hot summers and mild, brief winters. In contrast, Tucson experiences an arid desert climate with extremely hot summers and mild winters. Tucson also sees significantly less rain than Jacksonville, making it ideal for individuals who prefer drier climates.
Weather and climate
Type
Jacksonville
Tucson
Temperature - Average
68.3°F
70°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
78.4%
38.6%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
44%
46%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
92%
58%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
48%
12%
Precipitation - Yearly average
51.8 in
12 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
0 in
2 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
15.8%
32.3%
Sunshine amount - Average
69.6%
92.8%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
16%
15%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
74%
94%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
58%
79%
Wind speed - Average
7.2 mph
8.3 mph
Average climate in Jacksonville, Florida
Average climate in Tucson, Arizona
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Jacksonville
Tucson
Jacksonville
Tucson
Tucson
Jacksonville
Tucson
Jacksonville
Tucson
Jacksonville
Tucson
Jacksonville
Tucson
2018
78
87
N/A
0.19
8.3
N/A
24.5
32.0
N/A
N/A
29.9
N/A
7.1
5.5
N/A
0.1
2017
74
73
N/A
0.18
8.4
N/A
24.7
31.7
N/A
N/A
32.2
N/A
5.8
7.1
0.7
0.1
2016
65
68
0.50
0.21
7.9
N/A
24.9
29.7
N/A
N/A
25.3
N/A
5.2
4.5
0.4
0.1
2015
63
62
0.35
0.21
8.7
N/A
25.4
29.7
N/A
N/A
25.4
N/A
4.9
5.1
0.3
0.2
2014
66
74
0.27
0.19
10.0
N/A
24.3
28.8
N/A
N/A
28.0
N/A
5.9
5.6
0.7
0.2
2013
68
94
0.18
0.17
10.4
N/A
23.0
30.4
N/A
N/A
30.9
N/A
5.3
6.8
0.7
0.2
2012
66
73
0.10
0.20
11.8
N/A
24.0
30.0
N/A
N/A
31.2
N/A
5.8
5.6
0.6
0.2
2011
88
81
0.28
0.22
11.9
N/A
26.6
31.0
N/A
N/A
29.7
N/A
8.1
5.8
0.8
0.3
2010
77
68
0.31
0.29
10.8
N/A
26.4
30.5
N/A
N/A
25.5
N/A
7.1
N/A
0.8
0.5
2009
72
82
0.16
0.25
11.2
N/A
25.0
29.2
N/A
N/A
31.9
N/A
8.5
N/A
0.6
0.5
2008
75
81
0.15
0.29
12.2
N/A
27.6
29.2
N/A
N/A
32.0
N/A
10.0
N/A
0.9
0.9
2007
92
75
0.29
0.37
13.4
N/A
28.4
28.7
N/A
N/A
27.3
N/A
11.4
N/A
1.2
0.9
2006
87
74
0.35
0.41
15.3
N/A
29.0
27.7
N/A
N/A
17.3
N/A
10.8
N/A
1.4
0.6
2005
93
76
0.42
0.43
15.1
N/A
26.5
26.0
N/A
N/A
17.8
N/A
12.2
N/A
1.8
0.7
2004
92
77
0.40
0.49
15.6
N/A
25.2
25.6
N/A
N/A
14.0
N/A
12.4
N/A
1.4
1.2
2003
55
81
0.43
0.57
17.2
N/A
21.6
27.1
N/A
N/A
19.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.6
1.2
2002
59
76
0.49
0.56
16.9
N/A
22.2
26.8
0.003
N/A
19.9
N/A
N/A
N/A
1.7
1.0
2001
74
70
0.49
0.55
16.4
N/A
24.0
26.1
0.009
N/A
23.2
N/A
N/A
N/A
2.5
0.8
2000
85
78
0.52
0.50
16.7
N/A
25.1
26.4
0.017
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
3.0
2.3
Natural disasters
Type
Jacksonville
Tucson
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
75.2%
8.9%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
18.1%
1,584.9%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
24%
13%
Transportation
Jacksonville's public transit comprises buses and a Skyway monorail. The extensive road network makes driving a popular commuting option. Tucson's Sun Tran bus system and Sun Link streetcars provide public transit options and biking is popular due to the city's flat terrain.
Transport
Type
Jacksonville
Tucson
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
1
1
FAA registered aircraft
566
983
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
34
14
Means of transportation to work
Type
Jacksonville
Tucson
Bicycle
0.2%
1%
Bus
1.1%
1.9%
Carpooled
9%
11.5%
Car alone
86.5%
81.9%
Motorcycle
0.2%
0.5%
Taxicab
0.2%
0.1%
Walked
1.2%
2.3%
Average travel time to work
Type
Jacksonville
Tucson
Average
27.5 min
26 min
Other means
25 min
21.6 min
Public transportation
43.7 min
42.5 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Jacksonville
Tucson
Average
1.1
1.2
Drove alone
89.4%
86.3%
In 2 person carpool
8%
10.1%
In 3 person carpool
1.7%
2.5%
In 4 person carpool
0.7%
1%
In 7+ person carpool
0.2%
0.1%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Both cities offer a variety of real estate options, from modern downtown apartments to suburban homes. However, real estate in Jacksonville is generally more expensive than Tucson.
Neighborhoods
Boasting diverse neighborhoods, both Jacksonville and Tucson cater to a variety of lifestyles. Jacksonville's popular neighborhoods include Jacksonville Beach and Baldwin. In Tucson, neighborhoods like Sam Hughes and Catalina Foothills are coveted areas.
Houses and residents
Type
Jacksonville
Tucson
Houses
422,315
242,816
Average household size (people)
2.5
2.4
Median year apartment built
1985
1979
Median year house/condo built
1987
1978
Length of stay in the house since moving in
12.5 years
13.2 years
Houses occupied
386,283 (91.5%)
223,068 (91.9%)
Houses occupied by owners
226,429 (58.6%)
114,708 (51.4%)
Houses occupied by renters
159,854 (41.4%)
108,360 (48.6%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$1,444
$801.80
Median monthly housing costs
$1,154
$951
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$260,045
$557,132
Estimated median house or condo value
$239,400
$224,800
Median numbers of rooms
5.6
4.9
Median number of rooms in apartments
4.3
4
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.3
5.8
Median house price - detached houses
$282,276
$262,219
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$177,341
$147,793
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$144,947
$125,313
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$220,508
$135,055
Median house price - mobile homes
$87,589
$48,136
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$213,709
$210,375
Median house price - All housing units
$266,926
$234,849
Median house age
36
43
Renting percentage
38.3%
48.1%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
557.4
1,247.3
House value disparities
33.2%
32.8%
Household income disparities
44.2%
44.9%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$83,160
$76,356
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$59,777
$54,612
Housing units without a mortgage
2,439 (1.6%)
1,087 (1.5%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
8,460 (5.5%)
2,785 (3.9%)
Housing units with a mortgage
150,468 (98.4%)
70,054 (98.5%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
255 (0.2%)
211 (0.3%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
11,378 (7.4%)
4,051 (5.7%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
10
11
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
1
1
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
1.5%
1.2%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
1.4%
0.8%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Jacksonville
Tucson
One, detached
59.4%
53.5%
One, attached
6.1%
8.3%
Two
2.1%
2.5%
3 or 4
5.3%
4.3%
5 to 9
5.0%
5.0%
10 to 19
7.9%
5.6%
20 to 49
4.9%
5.8%
50 or more
5.3%
8.6%
Mobile homes
3.8%
6.2%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.2%
0.2%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
19,601
14,487
State government workers
13,692
17,981
Unpaid family workers
1,066
709
Industries and Occupations
Jacksonville's dominant industries are finance and healthcare, with banking and insurance being particularly well-represented. In Tucson, top industries include aerospace and defense, bioscience, solar, and healthcare. It's noteworthy that Tucson is heavily influenced by the University of Arizona and its focus on research.
Jacksonville's health care facilities, including Mayo Clinic and UF Health Jacksonville, are some of the best in Florida. Tucson's Banner-University Medical Center is nationally recognized, and the city is known for its excellent health care services, particularly in emergency care and elderly care.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Jacksonville
Tucson
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Both cities have invested heavily in their infrastructure. Jacksonville boasts one of the largest deep-water ports in the American South, and Tucson recently invested over $100 million into its "ROADS" program to improve city-wide transportation infrastructure.
Infrastructure
Type
Jacksonville
Tucson
Hospitals
25
24
TV stations
17
20
Arenas or stadiums
2
2
Bank branches located here
191
159
Bank institutions located here
31
17
Main business address for public companies
23
6
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
Tucson
1999
5,422
3,131
2000
4,132
1,601
2001
3,038
912
2002
2,017
778
2003
3,563
1,409
2004
4,781
2,041
2005
7,134
2,872
2006
8,812
2,833
2007
5,298
1,601
2008
1,719
714
2009
676
386
Culture and Food
Jacksonville's cultural scene boasts several museums, art galleries, and a vibrant food scene, reflecting the city's coastal location with ample seafood. Tucson, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, prides itself on its food culture, heavily influenced by its proximity to Mexico and a variety of unique regional ingredients.
Sports Teams
While Jacksonville is home to the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, Tucson, despite not having any major league professional sports teams has a fervent college sports culture, driven by the University of Arizona's teams.
Jacksonville, FL
Tucson, AZ
Jacksonville, FL and 
Tucson, AZ : 1,727.5 miles
