Submitted by Jacksonville Free Press
JACKSONVILLE, FL., November 20, 2024 — Jacksonville was recently ranked fifth for U.S. cities with the most “brain gain” by USA Today. Cities with brain gain are those that are successfully attracting and retaining college-educated individuals. Communities with a net loss of college graduates experience “brain drain.”
According to the publication, which analyzed U.S. Census 2023 American Community Survey data and state-level migrations to arrive at its findings, Jacksonville had a net migration of 5,310 college-educated residents in 2023.
Some of the top reasons college graduates move to a city include the cost of living, tax environment, career opportunities, and cultural amenities – all areas where Jacksonville excels over its peer cities. Prospective residents also look for communities with housing affordability and availability. Jacksonville is seeing housing inventory grow and year-over-year rent prices decrease because of this administration’s focus on affordable housing.
“It’s not a surprise to see that Jacksonville is attracting such a large pool of college graduates,” said Mayor Donna Deegan. “The word is out across the country that we are a fantastic place to live, work and play. This influx of talent will further bolster our local economy’s growing industries, including FinTech, healthcare, banking, manufacturing, and logistics.”
About the City of Jacksonville
The City of Jacksonville is the largest city by land mass in the contiguous United States, serving nearly one million residents. City of Jacksonville leadership includes Mayor Donna Deegan, and a 19-member City Council led by President Randy White. To learn more, visit jacksonville.gov.
