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Living in
Jacksonville.
About
Life in Jacksonville
This small college town in the Appalachian foothills punches above its weight as a genuine place to build a life. Jacksonville State University anchors the local economy and gives the community a younger, energetic feel—the median age hovers around 24, and there's a steady flow of students, faculty, and families who drive local commerce and culture. Housing is genuinely affordable, with median home values around $185,500 and rent averaging $820 a month, which matters when you're weighing where to actually plant roots.
Jacksonville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
25.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.1%
Foreign-Born
2.3%
Broadband Internet
89.1%
of households
Population Growth
+0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.3% foreign-born, most often from United Kingdom, excluding England and Scotland
Who lives in Jacksonville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Jacksonville, the largest foreign-born group is from United Kingdom, excluding England and Scotland (24.5%), and 1.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
14.0%
of residents
65 and Older
11.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.3%
of households
Married Couples
30.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 19% below AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Jacksonville
In Jacksonville, rent runs 19% below the AL average, and home values are 12% below the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
85.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$783
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $216,041 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Jacksonville
Unemployment in Calhoun County, which includes Jacksonville, is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
Jacksonville: Calhoun County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Calhoun County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Jacksonville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20 min avg
How Jacksonville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Jacksonville, most residents drive alone to work (83%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 59 mi
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 77 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 92% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Jacksonville runs 92% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
630.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,218.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Jacksonville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Calhoun County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Calhoun County, which includes Jacksonville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Drought | $2,000 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 7 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Calhoun County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Etowah County, AL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 23 miles from Jacksonville) is typically good — 223 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
223
per year
Moderate Days
140
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Etowah County, AL (23 mi away)
Climate87°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Jacksonville has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
56°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
53.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
37
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
72
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 30°F | 5.58" |
| Feb | 58°F | 33°F | 5.85" |
| Mar | 66°F | 39°F | 5.60" |
| Apr | 73°F | 46°F | 4.83" |
| May | 80°F | 55°F | 4.67" |
| Jun | 85°F | 63°F | 4.58" |
| Jul | 89°F | 67°F | 5.39" |
| Aug | 88°F | 66°F | 4.36" |
| Sep | 84°F | 60°F | 3.33" |
| Oct | 75°F | 48°F | 3.36" |
| Nov | 64°F | 37°F | 4.51" |
| Dec | 56°F | 33°F | 5.35" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Jacksonville
Uninsured
10.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Jacksonville's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.2 mi away · Anniston
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Jacksonville
Jacksonville's student/teacher ratio is 17.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 31.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
31.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Jacksonville
Public · 4-year · 7,036 students · in-state tuition $13,224 · 58% graduate · median earnings $51,004 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Freedom Riders National Monument, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Jacksonville
Jacksonville has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Freedom Riders National Monument (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Freedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
15 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
43 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
58 mi awayBirmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
64 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
67 mi awayMartin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
79 mi awayRussell Cave National Monument
National Monument
81 mi awayChickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
National Military Park
83 mi awayPublic Libraries in Jacksonville
Jacksonville Public Library
200 Pelham Road South, Jacksonville
Cities Near Jacksonville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Jacksonville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Jacksonville FAQ
Is Jacksonville, Alabama affordable?⌄
Jacksonville's median rent is $820/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,814/year. Median home value is $185,500.
Is Jacksonville, Alabama safe?⌄
Jacksonville's violent crime rate was 631 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2218 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Jacksonville, Alabama?⌄
Calhoun County, which includes Jacksonville, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Jacksonville, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Jacksonville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $820/month and median household income is $51,814/year. The median home value is $185,500. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Jacksonville, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Jacksonville is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from