01 · the cities
Jacksonville
Jacksonville is the largest city in the continental U.S. by land area, which means everything is 20 minutes from everything else and most of those 20 minutes involve a bridge. The St. Johns River cuts the city in half, the beaches are a quick drive east, and the food scene leans seafood and surprisingly excellent BBQ. It's a Florida city without the theme-park vibe.
full dispatch→Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is a three-mile boardwalk, a giant Neptune statue keeping watch, and Atlantic surf that's warm in August and gentle in September. The military presence (Navy and Air Force) gives the city a structured, welcoming feel. False Cape and Back Bay nature areas are wild marshland just south of the high-rises. October on the boardwalk might be the prettiest month on the East Coast.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,679/mo
$1,819/mo
$140/mo more than Jacksonville (8%)
Median home price
Median home price
$358k
$375k
$17k more than Jacksonville
State income tax
State income tax
0%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,654/mo
$6,035/mo
Jacksonville has $619/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
198 days
211 days
13 more than Jacksonville
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
27 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Jacksonville has 26 more days above 95°F each year than Virginia Beach.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
64 / 100
57 / 100
7.0 pts behind Jacksonville
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
26 routes
17 routes
9 fewer direct routes than Jacksonville
Metro size
Metro size
1.7M metro
1.8M metro
Jacksonville has 1.7x more events per month than Virginia Beach.
the verdict
6
Jacksonville
categories won
2
Virginia Beach
categories won
Jacksonville wins on money and lifestyle. Virginia Beach has the edge on weather.
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