Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Ratings
Local residents have positive feedback regarding the convenience of amenities, parks, public transit, the friendliness of neighbors, the strong sense of community, and the overall safety of the area.
Commute
Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.
Employment
The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.
Located in the state of Illinois, Jacksonville is a medium-sized city with a population of 19,218 inhabitants. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (83% White). Given that fact, Jacksonville could be considered less diverse than other cities. Jacksonville is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 44% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Jacksonville. With an average one way commute time of only 17 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very daunting task. However, it could also be a good experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Jacksonville, Illinois. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like cost of living, commute, health & safety, you can easily compare the best places to live in Jacksonville and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Jacksonville to Illinois and the national average.
With a livability score of 77/100, Jacksonville is ranked #2,741 in the United States and #136 in Illinois. Based on this score, Jacksonville would be considered a very livable city! Another exciting tidbit, is that Jacksonville ranks better than 90% of all US cities! If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Jacksonville has higher than average grades for the following: crime (B-), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Regrettably for Jacksonville, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: education (D) and employment (D).
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Jacksonville has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Assuming that Jacksonville meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Jacksonville. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Jacksonville are simply unattainable. The median home price for Jacksonville homes is $189,740, which is 38.5% lower than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Jacksonville, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.8, which is 20% lower than the Illinois average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Jacksonville | Illinois | National |
| Average one way commute | 17min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.4% | 73.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 7.1% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 2.5% | 9.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 1.0% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.2% | 4.4% | 4.6% |
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