2013 Quality of Life Progress Report for Jacksonville and Northeast Florida
Message to Jacksonville In January 2013, Jacksonville embarked on an exciting, long term visioning effort – JAX2025. Through this initiative, the community recommended indicators to measure progress towards the vision. As a result, JCCI’s annual Quality of Life Progress Report has undergone a paradigm shift. The nine focus areas previously monitored by JCCI’s Report are now aligned with the ten Targets crafted through JAX2025. The indicators in this report tell the story of a city that is not only turning the corner from the “Great Recession” but is also on the cusp of greatness. The trend lines demonstrate Jacksonville’s resiliency, but being resilient is not enough. Having witnessed the hope, strength, and continued resolve to persevere, residents have seen the potential for greatness and have raised the bar. Like a teacher who sees a student’s potential and pushes them towards success, the 2013 Quality of Life Progress Report asks Jacksonville to live up to its fullest potential, its highest and best aspirations.
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Jacksonville is advancing in areas that are typically perceived as weaknesses. The unemployment rate and the public high school graduation rate are heading in the right direction. The percent of children without health insurance continues to decline, as does the crime rate. However, despite progress in these areas, Jacksonville has real challenges with which to contend. Disparities persist, demonstrated by indicators housed under the Diverse and Inclusive Target. Serious bicycle accidents continue, and tributary compliance with water quality standards is still on the decline. This progress report provides a lens with which to focus community efforts, and JAX2025 provides the portal for accountability, giving residents and community stakeholders a way and a responsibility to achieve Jacksonville’s vision for the year 2025. Connect with what You Can do to move these indicators in the right direction at www.JAX2025.org. Get informed. Get engaged. Take action.
Excellence in Education
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Vision: In 2025, Jacksonville prioritizes excellence in education at every age.
The public high school graduation rate has increased for the seventh year in a row. This consistent increase reflects the investment and commitment of community partners. Even though the percentages of students graduating is increasing, we aren’t seeing the same gains in college continuation. The percentage of children ready for kindergarten using ECHOS increased slightly; overall, this number has been stable in recent years.
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Duval Public HS Graduation Rate
67.7%
72.1%
WORSE SAME BETTER
Readiness for Kindergarten
86.0%
87.0%
WORSE SAME BETTER
Percent of HS Graduates Continuing to College
28.6%
25.2%
WORSE SAME BETTER
Vibrant Economy Vision: In 2025, Jacksonville’s vibrant economy is a global magnet for new business. The educational attainment of Duval County residents continues to increase, which contributes to the local knowledge-based economy. Housing costs (combined owner-occupied and renter-occupied) as a percent of household income have not changed since last year. However, this figure has decreased for owner-occupied housing units and increased for renter-occupied units. Employment in the Transportation and Warehousing sector has grown since last year.
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25.5%
26.4%
WORSE SAME BETTER
Percent of Households paying 30% or more for Housing
41%
41%
WORSE SAME BETTER
Percent Employment Growth in Transportation and Warehousing Sector
-1.2%
0.5%
WORSE SAME BETTER
Adults holding bachelor’s degree or higher
A Place Where People Matter
Hub of Smooth Transportation
Vision: In 2025, Jacksonville is a place where people matter. The percent of residents who feel safe walking alone at night in their neighborhood has decreased since last year. The percent of people under age 18 that are living in poverty has increased consistently since 2008. The suicide rate, which has increased for the second year in a row, has not been this high since 1991.
Survey: Percent who feel ‘safe’ in their neighborhood
Twenty-Ninth Annual Edition www.jcci.org
Children Living in Poverty Suicide Rate (per 100,000 people)
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66%
61%
WORSE SAME BETTER
23.5%
25.5%
WORSE SAME BETTER
14.2
17.1
WORSE SAME BETTER
Indicator Champion As a community, we must be dedicated to achieving a vision where all citizens live with the peace of mind that they are safe and their families are secure. ~Michael Ward, CEO
Vision: In 2025, Jacksonville is a regional hub of smooth transportation. While bus ridership remains relatively unchanged, our community is traveling fewer vehicle miles than were traveled the previous year. The daily vehicle miles traveled per person have been declining each year since 2008. Serious bicycle accidents have increased dramatically since 2010, and the 2012 figure is the highest data point that has been recorded for this indicator by the Quality of Life Progress Report.
Serious Bicycle Accidents (per 100,000 people)
Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled (per person) JTA Bus Ridership (per 1,000 people)
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26.0
33.9
WORSE SAME BETTER
32.1
31.4
WORSE SAME BETTER
43
42
WORSE SAME BETTER
Vibrant Neighborhoods & Urban Heart
Diverse & Inclusive Vision: In 2025, Jacksonville is renowned as a diverse and inclusive community.
Vision: In 2025, Jacksonville’s distinctive neighborhoods flourish, along with our urban heart. We would like to thank the many people and organizations whose support and efforts make this report possible.
Primary Funder Focusing on education, income and health, United Way of Northeast Florida addresses some of our community’s most pressing social issues. JCCI’s annual Quality of Life report provides critical information that enables us to evaluate the effectiveness of our initiatives and helps determine the allocation of resources.
The crime rate continues to head in the right direction and is the lowest that has been recorded in the history of the Progress Report. The estimated number of residents that live in Downtown Jacksonville continues to increase and is the highest that has been recorded in the report’s history. The trend line for the Downtown office vacancy rate is also heading in the right direction as it has decreased for the second year in a row.
Median earnings have declined for both males and females, and the gap between male and female median earnings remains significant. The percent of elected officials who are female remains the same as last year. However, this number is not representative of the female population of Duval County (58 percent). The percent of residents who feel that racism is a problem in our community has increased.
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Median Earnings by gender:
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Index Crime Rate (per 100,000)
5,149
4,896
WORSE SAME BETTER
Estimated Downtown Residents
3,266
3,730
WORSE SAME BETTER
Elected Officials who are Female
Downtown Office Vacancy Rate
24.3
23.2
WORSE SAME BETTER
Survey: Is Racism a Problem? (yes)
Female
$39,440 $38,971 WORSE SAME BETTER
Male
$53,691 $51,360 WORSE SAME BETTER 28%
28%
WORSE SAME BETTER
56.7%
62.7%
WORSE SAME BETTER
We are proud to support the nation’s longest-running quality of life indicators program, and we congratulate JCCI on providing the community with this vital analysis and trend data for 29 straight years.
~ Connie Hodges, President
2013 Review Committee William Rupp, Chair Nikole Helvey Kevin Hyde Genni Jett Coley Jones Laurie Kopstad
Maira Martelo Robert Mason Melanie Moore Jan Morse Blake Osner Melanie Patz
Keto Porter James Richardson Jim Sylvester Steve Tocknell Kelli Wells
Champion Sponsors
Clean & Green City Vision: In 2025, Jacksonville is a clean and green city. Our community’s water consumption is down, as each JEA household used an average of 182 gallons each day versus 205 gallons from the previous year. The compliance of St. Johns River tributaries with federal water quality standards have decreased for the third year in a row, marking significant decline compared to five years ago. The annual energy use per person has decreased for the second year in a row.
Healthiest Community Vision: In 2025, Jacksonville is among the healthiest communities in the country. The percent of youth without health insurance has continued to decline in recent years. The number of cigarettes sold per person continues to decline even as the population increases. The percent of people who feel that healthcare in Jacksonville is “good” or “excellent” has declined for two years in a row.
People without Health Insurance
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Tributary Compliance with Water Quality Standards for Human & Animal Waste
60%
57%
WORSE SAME BETTER
Packs of Cigarettes Sold (per person)
Average Daily Water Use (gallons)
205
182
WORSE SAME BETTER
Survey: Healthcare is “Good” or “Excellent”
15,042
14,268
WORSE SAME BETTER
Annual Energy Use (per person)
(under 18)
Community Snapshot is an interactive mapping tool that allows you to have full access to and control over how you view the indicators in your community. The database provides information to measure a geographic region over time, in context and comparison with progress in other geographic areas. Reports, graphs and charts are customizable at the click of a button. Community Snapshot is upgraded regularly, so keep checking back to see the exciting updates we are working on. We offer quarterly training opportunities to highlight all that these tools have to offer. Visit www.communitysnapshot.org to take a snapshot of the trends & data in your community today. JCCI - Jacksonville Community Council Inc. 100 Festival Park Avenue | Jacksonville, Florida 32202 | (904) 396-3052 | www.jcci.org
Recent Trend
Survey: Can you influence local government? (yes)
28%
Survey: Elected Leadership is “Good” or “Excellent”
40%
34%
WORSE SAME BETTER
Survey: Satisfaction with Basic City Services
80%
73%
WORSE SAME BETTER
29%
8.3%
8.2%
WORSE SAME BETTER
57
55
WORSE SAME BETTER
68%
62%
WORSE SAME BETTER
Vision: In 2025, Jacksonville’s creative community fuels a vibrant arts and entertainment scene.
The percent of residents who feel they can influence government has increased but remains low when compared to numbers from 10 years ago. Indicators regarding perceptions about local government (residents who feel elected leadership is “good” or “excellent” and those that are “somewhat” or “very satisfied” with basic city services) have declined. The trend line for residents’ satisfaction with basic city services is at an all-time low.
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Arts & Entertainment
Vision: In 2025, Jacksonville thrives due to exemplary governance.
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Health Champion Our community’s vision must be one of excellent, compassionate health care that is accessible to all citizens. ~Moody Chisholm, CEO
Exemplary Governance www.communitysnapshot.org
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WORSE SAME BETTER
Museum attendance and attendance at sport events have increased from the previous year. However, the number of public performances and events at the Florida Theater, Metropolitan Park, and the Times-Union Performing Arts Center have decreased overall.
Museum Attendance (per 1,000 people)
Sporting Event Attendance (per 1,000 people)
Public Performances/Events (shows at selected facilities)
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375
420
WORSE SAME BETTER
1,743
2,489
WORSE SAME BETTER
505
438
WORSE SAME BETTER
Learn More Learn more about all of the indicators that JCCI tracks and how we compare with other communities in Florida. Visit Community Snapshot online at www.communitysnapshot.org.