Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in Jacksonville, FL
9 neighborhoods ranked by safety, quiet living, air quality, affordability, and walkability — the factors that matter most for a comfortable retirement.
Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in Jacksonville — Key Takeaways
The best neighborhood for retirees in Jacksonville is Downtown Jacksonville with a Retiree Score of 76/100. Jacksonville has 9 neighborhoods evaluated for retirement livability. The safest neighborhood is Ortega with a violent crime rate of 3.8 per 1,000 residents. Best air quality goes to Ortega with an AQI of 45.
Jacksonville has a population of 949,611, a median household income of $55,530, and a median home value of $260,000, which is 8% below the national average of $281,900.
Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, DOT Noise Map, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.
Top 3 Neighborhoods for Retirees
| # | Neighborhood | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Jacksonville | 76 | ||
| Springfield Jacksonville | 72 | ||
| San Marco | 72 | ||
4 | Riverside Jacksonville | 68 | |
5 | Ortega | 67 | |
6 | Mandarin | 64 | |
7 | Avondale | 63 | |
8 | Five Points | 59 | |
9 | Southside Jacksonville | 58 |
Rankings by Category
Top 5 neighborhoods in Jacksonville for each retiree-relevant metric.
Lowest violent crime rate
- 3.8 per 1K
- 3.8 per 1K
- 3.8 per 1K
- 3.8 per 1K
- 3.8 per 1K
Lowest Air Quality Index
- AQI 45
- AQI 45
- AQI 45
- AQI 45
- AQI 45
Lowest median home value
- $151,600
- $192,100
- $192,900
- $297,500
- $309,000
Highest Walk Score
- 95/100
- 87/100
- 75/100
- 73/100
- 66/100
Lowest property crime rate
- 21.5 per 1K
- 21.5 per 1K
- 21.5 per 1K
- 21.5 per 1K
- 21.5 per 1K
Lowest poverty rate
- 2.1%
- 4.3%
- 5.4%
- 10.2%
- 15.7%
Highest median household income
- $105,676
- $99,563
- $81,429
- $80,601
- $48,807
Neighborhoods are ranked using the Retiree Score, a composite livability index specifically designed for retirees. It prioritizes the factors that matter most for a comfortable, safe, and healthy retirement:
- Safety (Violent Crime)
- 25% weight
- Quiet Living (Road Noise)
- 20% weight
- Air Quality (AQI)
- 20% weight
- Affordability (Home Value)
- 20% weight
- Walkability (Walk Score)
- 15% weight
Safety is weighted highest because personal security is the top concern for retirees. Quiet living and air quality reflect the importance of a healthy, peaceful environment. Affordability matters for those on fixed incomes, and walkability supports an active lifestyle without reliance on driving.
Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, DOT National Transportation Noise Map, Walk Score, and FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.