Jacksonville, FL vs Lakeland, FL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Jacksonville
69.9
#1153 nationally
Lakeland
71.5
#975 nationally
Lakeland leads in walk score (35 vs 26). Lakeland leads in average commute (23.2 min vs 26.1 min). Jacksonville leads in cost of living index (96 vs 103).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.9 (#1153) | 71.5 (#975) |
| Population | 985,843 | 122,264 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $286,646 | $312,574 |
| Median Household Income | $61,442 | $58,290 |
| Average Commute | 26.1 min | 23.2 min |
| Walk Score | 26 | 35 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 8.3 |
| School Rating | 5.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 103 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+1.5 | R+20.7 |
D+
69.9 Score
Jacksonville, FL
Bold City with room to grow
Median Home
$286,646
Population
985,843
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C+
Southeast
View Jacksonville, FL →
C-
71.5 Score
Lakeland, FL
Mid-size Florida city with community character
Median Home
$312,574
Population
122,264
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
35
Southeast
View Lakeland, FL →
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