It’s Okay. Just Not For Me.
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6/14/2023
I moved from a small town in Ohio around four years ago, I was 24 years old. Now, at 28, my outlook about living here has changed. I have came to the conclusion, that, this place (Jacksonville) is not for me. Looking forward to selling my house and leaving someday.
Jacksonville has some amazing things about its many attractions, anywhere from hiking trails, beaches, shopping centers, etc. Although, Jacksonville (even in the outskirts where I live) suffers from the typical Florida issues, it’s WAY TOO CROWDED. There are way too many people here. Now, in all fairness, traffic is not as bad as other large cities around the US or other towns in Florida. Although, it still sucks. People here cannot drive worth a sh*t. Always a Nissan Altima that’s going 95 mph everywhere, racing to every red light for no reason. It’s the city life, and in my opinion, cities suck. Even though, I work from home and live in the outskirts of town, going out into streets anytime from 7am to 7pm is a mess. (If you are a car enthusiast like I, there’s not a good amount of spirited driving areas).
Jacksonville has been increasing in crime but so has most of the US. Nickname is Jacksonkill for a reason. It tends to be gangs in pockets, or in neighborhoods. No city or large or small are safe from crime, unfortunately. Common sense will keep you safe, stay out of sketchy areas of westside, north and north east, downtown, and you’ll be pretty safe. Recommend to carry, if you feel safe doing so.
Cost of living, of course, has increased since 2020, just like most of the US. It’s not horrible but it’s not amazing either. Compare living here to big cities in other parts of the country. Property taxes are pretty affordable (for a city), homestead will save you a lot of money. Many people rage about insurance rates, where rates are more expensive (it is Florida). If you live in a bad (and even sought out) neighborhoods. Or live in a flood zone, you will have increased insurance rates. I Recommend you shop for insurance as much as you can if you buy a house or are buying a car.
The job market is relatively strong if you are in the technology (my field), finance/business, and medical. Anything else is more mid tier to not found. Salaries are decent, they are not California, NY, Chicago, or (insert huge city here). Since you do not have a state income tax and property taxes are not insanely high (they are fairly priced), you keep more of your money compared to other states.
All in all, this is a very quick write up. I’ll add and edit this, overtime. Jacksonville Florida is city. That’s about all you can say about it.
CAnderson | Jacksonville, FL