Detroit - MI vs Jacksonville - FL: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Jacksonville - FL is roughly 33% more expensive than Detroit - MI in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Jacksonville - FL (49 days vs 15), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Detroit vs Jacksonville: what the numbers say

At today's 7.24% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,441 a month in principal and interest in Detroit and $1,911 in Jacksonville, a gap of $470 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,514 in Detroit and $1,680 in Jacksonville, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Detroit and 1.1 times rent in Jacksonville, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 14.5 years of rent in Detroit and 17.4 in Jacksonville; the lower ratio in Detroit means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +5.2% in Detroit and -3.3% in Jacksonville; over just the last three months the change was +0.3% in Detroit and +0.1% in Jacksonville.

Homes sell for 99.5% of list price in Detroit and 96.8% in Jacksonville, after 15 and 49 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% and 29% of listings. The signs are mixed: Detroit has more price cuts, while Jacksonville has longer time on the market and sales further below list.

The number of homes for sale is up 10% on a year ago in Detroit and down 13% on a year ago in Jacksonville.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-29), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.