Jacksonville, Florida

What's the cost of living in Jacksonville, FL?

The cost of housing in Jacksonville is lower than the national median sale price, although you should expect cost fluctuations, depending on your preferred neighborhood and type of residence. For many residents, the largest daily expense is transportation, as many people rely on their own cars to get around.

What's the best way to get around Jacksonville, FL?

The metro area is an expansive landmass connected by main routes that include Interstates 10, 95 and 295. These routes – not to mention the area's bridges – are prone to heavy rush-hour traffic as well as accidents.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority offers bus service, but routes are long and often delayed by traffic congestion. Downtown Jacksonville offers its own public transit services, including ferries, water taxis and the JTA Skyway train.

To get out of the area, residents rely on Greyhound buses, Amtrak trains or flights via the Jacksonville International Airport, which accommodates about 200 domestic and international departures and arrivals each day. Cruises depart the JAXPORT cruise terminal in the Mayport area.

Who lives in Jacksonville, FL?

Jacksonville attracts people of all ages and backgrounds. The metro area is a popular retirement spot: About 14 percent of the population consists of residents older than 65, and the beach towns are home to a number of retirement communities. It's also a popular place for families, and a quarter of the community is younger than 20 years old.

About half the population identifies as religious. Protestantism and Catholicism are the dominant faiths. 

What is there to do in Jacksonville, FL?

Jacksonville's seat on the Atlantic coast lures many who wish to live near the beach. Popular shorelines include Amelia Island and Ponte Vedra – both of which are known for their golf courses. Residents also enjoy outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking and cycling, in state recreation areas like Hanna Park and the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Such areas complement the beaches of Jacksonville, with its waterways and expansive coastline for fishing, boating and other aquatic pastimes.

Jacksonville also has a growing restaurant scene in the San Marco and Southside neighborhoods. The fine and performing arts are best viewed at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Cummer Museum, the Ritz Theatre and the Florida Theatre.

The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena caters to sports fans, as it is home to the Sharks indoor football team as well as college and minor league basketball teams. Other teams include the Jumbo Shrimp minor league baseball team, the Armada FC professional soccer team and the Jaguars NFL team.