Jacksonville vs Tampa: The Numbers, Side by Side

Deciding between Jacksonville and Tampa? Skip the anecdotes — here is every measurable difference between the two markets (anchored on their core counties): home values and list prices, property taxes at each side’s verified millage, insurance, rents, growth, investor yield and migration — each figure from the named source that produced it.

The head-to-head table

Metric	Jacksonville	Tampa
Typical home value (Zillow)	$296,317	$380,147
Median list price	$299,962	$424,450
1-yr value change	-1.2%	-2.0%
5-yr value change	3.4%	4.2%
Median days on market	59 days	65 days
Active listings	3,806	6,239
Listings with a price cut	27.4%	26.9%
Typical millage (property tax)	17.86 mills	15.73 mills
Avg Citizens insurance	$1,315/yr	$1,816/yr
Typical rent (ZORI)	$1,628/mo	$2,016/mo
Modeled monthly cost to own	$1,810/mo	$2,335/mo
Gross cap rate	6.6%	6.4%
Net migration (people/yr)	+912	-1186
Residential permits (2025)	6,017	8,696

Bold marks the side a cost-or-yield metric favors. Values from Zillow research series, Realtor.com Economic Research, verified county millage, Citizens Property Insurance filings, Zillow Observed Rent Index, IRS SOI migration and Census permits; all change over time.

What the table actually says

On price, Jacksonville is the cheaper market — typical values run about $83,830 lower than Tampa.

On carrying costs, Tampa has the lower typical millage and Jacksonville the lower average Citizens premium; the own-versus-rent gap is narrower in Jacksonville.

On momentum, Jacksonville shows the stronger 1-year value change (-1.2% vs -2.0%); five-year growth favors Tampa.

For rental investors, Jacksonville carries the higher gross cap rate (6.6% vs 6.4%).

On demand, IRS migration data shows Jacksonville gaining more net residents per year (912 vs -1,186).

The costs people forget to compare

Two Florida specifics matter more than the sticker gap. First, property tax RESETS to your purchase price when you buy — compare the two markets at YOUR price with the property tax calculator, not at the sellers’ current bills. Second, insurance varies more by home age, construction and distance-to-coast than by county average — quote the specific home. The buyer closing costs calculator builds both into a real cash-to-close for either market.

Dig deeper on Jacksonville

Run the numbers in Duval County

Dig deeper on Tampa

Run the numbers in Hillsborough County

Common questions

Is Jacksonville or Tampa cheaper to buy a home?

Jacksonville - typical values (Zillow) run about $83,830 lower. List prices and the tax-and-insurance stack are compared line by line in the table.

How far is Jacksonville from Tampa?

Jacksonville to Tampa is about 200 miles by road, about 3 hours of driving via I-10 to I-75 in normal traffic. That distance is why the two are separate housing markets with their own prices, taxes and insurance, compared in the table above.

Which has lower property taxes, Jacksonville or Tampa?

Tampa has the lower typical combined millage (15.73 vs 17.86 mills). Remember Florida resets assessed value to your purchase price in either market.

Which is better for rental investors?

By gross cap rate, Jacksonville currently yields more (6.6% vs 6.4%) - before insurance and management differences, which the investor pages cover.

A factual comparison of market data only, from the sources named above as of 2026-09-11; figures change over time and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. It describes markets, not people, and is not advice about where anyone should live. Equal Housing Opportunity.