JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville has made measurable gains in affordable housing construction in recent years, but city leaders said the pace still falls short of what’s needed to keep up with rapid population growth.
New data from RentCafe.com shows that roughly 1 in every 15 apartments built in the Jacksonville metro over the past five years qualifies as affordable, reflecting a significant increase in income-restricted housing compared with the pre-pandemic period.
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Between 2020 and 2024, developers completed 1,832 affordable apartments in the metro area, an 80% increase from the previous five-year period. That growth places Jacksonville fourth statewide for affordable housing construction, behind Miami, Tampa Bay and the Southwest Florida Coast.
Despite the progress, affordable units still account for just about 7% of all new apartment construction, highlighting the continued imbalance between supply and demand.
“Every single district in Jacksonville needs affordability and affordable housing,” Joshua Hicks said, the city’s affordable housing director.
Hicks said confusion around what qualifies as “affordable housing” is one of the most common questions city officials hear from residents.
What counts as “affordable housing” in Jacksonville?
Affordable housing is generally defined as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household’s gross income. Households paying more than that are considered cost-burdened.
“At its simplest, affordable housing means you shouldn’t be spending more than 30% of your income on housing,” Hicks said. “If you’re spending more than that, you’re considered cost-burdened.”
Eligibility is based on Area Median Income (AMI) and household size. For Duval County, the 2025 AMI is $102,500 for a family of four, according to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
80% of AMI (moderate-income affordable housing):
- 1 person: $57,400
- 2 people: $65,600
- 3 people: $73,840
- 4 people: $82,000
30% of AMI (deeply affordable housing):
- 1 person: $21,550
- 2 people: $24,600
- 3 people: $27,690
- 4 people: $30,750
Eligibility for affordable housing is based on area median income, or AMI, and household size. In Jacksonville, a single person earning $57,440 a year, or 80% of AMI, would qualify for certain affordable housing programs, according to city data.
Hicks said affordability is not a one-size-fits-all concept.
“Affordable housing means what’s affordable for you,” he said. “Everyone has different incomes and different situations. What might be affordable for me might not be affordable for you.”
The city focuses much of its development on housing for households earning between 30% and 80% of AMI, where officials say the largest gaps exist.
Residents can track affordable housing projects and progress through the city’s online housing dashboard, which maps developments and outlines income thresholds.
Even with recent gains, city leaders say Jacksonville remains far behind where it needs to be.
“We’re about 50,000 units short of where we should be,” Hicks said. “We’re growing rapidly, and there’s never a point where the job is done.”
In 2025, Jacksonville added about 1,200 affordable housing units, and the city is on track to add more in 2026, according to Hicks.
“We need to continue to be mindful that everyone deserves a roof over their head,” he said. “Everyone deserves a place to sleep. Building housing supply is how we keep people housed and address affordability across Jacksonville.”