Why Jacksonville

 

One of the Top 20 Best Places to Live in the U.S.
-U.S. News & World Report 2023

 

 

The Jacksonville Market MSA is the largest in the continental United States by area, covering around 875 square miles in the northeastern part of Florida, including Duval, Nassau, St Johns, Clay and Baker counties. Jacksonville is the largest city in the state based on population and growing.​

#1​ ​ ​ Florida's Largest Container Port by Volume
JAXPORT

#2​ ​ ​ Best U.S. City for Job Seekers
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

#3​ ​ ​ Best Place to live in Florida
FORBES 2023

 

Top Private Employers in Jacksonville MSA

 

Jacksonville
America's Logistics Center


3​
Interstates


85
Non-stop flights daily


29+
direct​ U.S.
airports


$300M +
in infrastructure improvements


3
Railroads

​ ​ ​ ​ Seaports

  • JAXPORT is one of the region’s four deep-water ports and is the #1 container terminal in Florida
  • More than $100 million invested in infrastructure improvements, including upgrading to 100-gauge cranes
  • The $484 million project to deepen the harbor to 47 feet was completed in May 2022
  • Boasts the widest shipping channel in the Southeast, enough room for two ships to pass at the same time

 

JAXPORT 2023 CARGO STATISTICS

10 million​ tons of cargo

1.3 million​ containers

505k±​ vehicles handled

1,566​ vessel calls

 

Cost of Living

With a cost of living below the national average, Jacksonville is a great place to experience a spectacular climate, excellent quality of life, wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities and abundant sports, arts and cultural amenities.

 

The Florida
Advantage

 

Economy

As the 14th largest economy​ in the world, Florida’s continuously elevating economy has boasted the #1 ranking for new business formations with more than 2.6 million new businesses formed since 2019. Florida’s economy would be the 18th largest in the world, if it were a country. It surpasses most in its access to global markets, multimodal transportation, AAA credit rating and the scale and scope of industry assets. No longer reliant on tourism, Florida’s economy to industries includes financial & professional services, life sciences, technology and manufacturing. Florida also has the fourth largest workforce in the US, gaining more than 200,000 jobs​ in the last year. Florida’s unemployment rate reduced to 3.2%, which is 0.6 percentage points less than the national unemployment rate. Florida’s annual job growth has continuously exceeded the nation’s rate and is projected to add an additional 1,049,947 jobs by 2025.

 

 

Popular Trends

Florida has the fourth fastest growing population​ in the United States, with the highest net in-migration in the country in 2022 and surpassing the national growth rate of 5.5%., and the second fastest in the South Atlantic. Florida’s current population is estimated to be more than 21.7 million residents, making it the third most populated state, after California and Texas. This translates into an 11.6% growth in the population since 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By 2030, the Sunshine State is projected to add an additional 1.8 million residents.

 

POPULATION TRENDS

1,696,786
2023 Total Population
​ Jacksonville MSA
ESRI

8%
Population Change
(2019 - 2023)
ESRI

#6
MSA in 2023 Migration
Population Growth
LINKEDIN 2023

METRO RANKINGS

NO
Taxes on Corporate Franchises, Inventory,
Foreign or Personal Income
JAXUSA 2023

#2
Best State to Start
a Business
WALLETHUB 2023

Top 5
Cities Where Millennials
are Moving
SMARTASSET 2022

EMPLOYMENT

863,000±
Working Adults
JAXUSA 2023

3,000
Skilled Veterans Enter the Private
Sector Workforce Annually
JAXUSA 2023

#1
State for Attracting & Developing
Skilled Workforce
LIGHTCAST 2022