TX → FL · Texas Tech to Northeast Florida

Moving from Austin to Jacksonville?

Austin to JAX — both 0% tax states (TX/FL), 38% cheaper housing, financial services + Atlantic beaches.

  • 1,015 mi Distance
  • 15 hr Drive time
  • 38% lower Home prices
  • 224 Sun days/year
The Story

Austin-to-Jacksonville is the rare 0%-tax-to-0%-tax move. Both TX and FL have no state income tax. Housing 38% cheaper, COL 20% lower. The pull: Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) HQ, Black Knight (mortgage tech), Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville brewery, Mayo Clinic Florida, Atlantic beaches 20 min east, and JaxPort (3rd largest US auto port). Property tax flips downward (TX 2.0% to FL ~0.9%).

Why This Move

Why people move from Austin to Jacksonville.

  • Same 0% income tax — TX/FL both have no state income tax
  • Housing 38% cheaper — $525K Austin SFH becomes $325K JAX SFH
  • Property tax flips downward — TX 2.0% effective to FL ~0.9%
  • Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) HQ — major fintech
  • Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville brewery + Black Knight (mortgage tech)
  • Mayo Clinic Florida (Jacksonville)
  • Atlantic beaches 20 min east (Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra)
  • JaxPort — 3rd largest US auto port + cargo
Cost Comparison

The money side of TX → FL.

Austin

  • Median home$525,000
  • Income tax0% (TX)
  • Cost index119

Jacksonville

  • Median home$325,000
  • Income tax0% (FL)
  • Cost index95
What to Do in Jacksonville

Things you'll want to know about your new city.

Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Jacksonville, organized by what kind of day you're planning.

Outdoors & Recreation

  • Jacksonville Beaches (Atlantic, Neptune, Jax Beach) — 26 miles of beach; surf-friendly, family-friendly
  • Friendship Fountain — Iconic riverside fountain; Southbank Riverwalk
  • Big Talbot Island State Park — Boneyard Beach with weathered driftwood

Culture & Arts

  • Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens — Riverside museum with formal gardens
  • St. Augustine (45 min south) — Oldest continuously occupied European city in US (1565)
  • TIAA Bank Field (Jaguars) — NFL stadium
  • Kingsley Plantation — Oldest standing plantation house in FL; National Park Service
  • Riverside / Avondale historic districts — Walkable historic neighborhoods

Family-Friendly

  • Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens — Among oldest US zoos; African and Asian collections
  • Museum of Science and History (MOSH) — Hands-on; planetarium, archaeology
Where to Eat

Jacksonville's essential restaurants.

The dining list every Jacksonville resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.

  • Orsay French bistro Avondale

    Beloved bistro

  • Black Sheep Restaurant American Five Points

    Modern American

  • Bistro Aix French Mediterranean San Marco

    San Marco Square favorite

  • Restaurant Doro Italian Downtown

    Wood-fired Italian; rooftop

  • Maple Street Biscuit Company Southern biscuits Multiple

    Born in Jacksonville (now national)

  • Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops Ice pops/dessert Multiple

    St. Augustine origin; Jax outpost

  • Town Hall American San Marco

    Modern American gastropub

  • Singleton's Seafood Shack Seafood Mayport

    Dock-side fresh local seafood

Where to Live

Best Jacksonville neighborhoods for Austin transplants.

Mapped to the Austin neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.

  • Riverside / Avondale

    If East Austin was your vibe — walkable historic, restaurants, bungalows

  • San Marco

    If South Lamar was your goal — walkable shopping/restaurants, top schools, charming

  • Five Points

    If you came from Bouldin Creek — walkable, restaurants, art, breweries

  • Ortega

    If Tarrytown affluent was your speed — affluent, walkable, top schools, $700K-$3M+

  • Mandarin (suburb)

    If Round Rock master-planned was your model — master-planned, top schools, walkable centers

  • Ponte Vedra Beach (suburb)

    If you wanted beach + family — affluent beach community, top schools, $500K-$3M+

Climate & Walkability

What daily life feels like in Jacksonville.

Climate

Humid subtropical. Hot, humid summers (72-92°F, June-Sept). Mild winters (45-67°F, rare freeze). Hurricane season June-November (Matthew 2016, Irma 2017). 224 sun days/year.

  • Summer72-91°F
  • Winter45-66°F
  • Sun days/yr224
  • Rainfall52 inches

Walkability

  • Walk Score26/100
  • Transit Score26/100
  • Bike Score47/100

Jacksonville is car-dependent — most errands require driving.

Outdoors & Recreation

  • 26 miles of beaches — Atlantic, Neptune, Jax, Ponte Vedra, Mickler's
  • St. Johns River — kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing
  • Talbot Islands State Parks — beaches, hiking
  • Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve — 46,000 acres
  • Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve — coastal estuary
  • Surfing — surfable waves year-round at Jax Beach
Reality Check

What changes about your daily life.

  • Same 0% income tax — no change
  • Housing 38% cheaper — same income buys substantially more
  • Property tax flips downward — saves $5K+/yr on $500K home
  • Cost of living 20% lower
  • Climate flips humid subtropical to humid-tropical (JAX coastal Atlantic)
  • Hurricane risk arrives — JAX coastal exposure
  • Property insurance jumps modestly (FL coastal exposure)
  • Cap Metro replaced with JTA buses (smaller transit)
  • Live music scene shrinks (Austin is the apex)
  • BBQ scene shrinks dramatically (Austin top-3; JAX has decent local)
Driving Routes

How to drive there.

  • I-10 East

    1,015 miles direct via Houston, New Orleans, Tallahassee. 15 hours / 1-2 days.

Move Logistics

What it takes to move 1,015 miles.

  • Full-service (3BR)$4,500-$8,000
  • Container/PODS$3,200-$5,500
  • DIY (26-ft truck)$2,200-$4,000
  • Best monthsOct-Apr (avoid hurricane season + Texas summer)
  • Lead time8-10 weeks ahead

USDOT-registered.

Common Questions

Moving from Austin to Jacksonville: FAQ.

Worth the cross-country move?

Yes if seeking dramatic affordability + beach access. Same 0% income tax means your TX salary translates fully. Housing 38% cheaper + property tax savings + Atlantic beach access. Career-driven moves (FIS, Black Knight, Mayo Clinic Florida) work; lateral tech moves often involve remote work for Austin employers.

Beach access vs. Austin lakes?

Major upgrade. Austin has Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Barton Springs (freshwater). JAX has Atlantic beaches 20 min east — Jacksonville Beach (surf), Ponte Vedra Beach (TPC Sawgrass), Atlantic Beach. Beach lifestyle becomes daily-life accessible.

Moving TX → FL?

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