ABOUT
Turning Data into Clarity, Foresight, and Action
State of Jax is an initiative of the Jacksonville Transformation Coalition, which is a unique “coalition of the willing” made up representation from government, businesses, nonprofits, education and faith-based communities with a goal of making Jacksonville a destination city with opportunities for all.
About the Project
State of Jax provides critical data to identify, measure, report, and propel Jacksonville’s progress toward shared economic, educational, health, and cultural goals.
By bringing together hyperlocal data from numerous independent sources, State of Jax showcases strengths and opportunities across the entire city. Over time, we can use this information to identify trends and chart our evolution. State of Jax is the anchor for innovative research, collaborative problem-solving, and informed decision-making across the city.
Sharpening Jacksonville’s Future with Data
“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first six sharpening my axe.”
This wisdom, often attributed to Abraham Lincoln, reminds us that preparation is the foundation of progress. In today’s world, our sharpest tool is data.
Before crafting policies or launching initiatives, we need reliable, context-rich insights. Just as a dull axe makes work harder and wasteful, decisions made without good data—or with misunderstood data—risk being inefficient, or even harmful.
Data is not just numbers; it’s clarity, foresight, and action. It enables us to identify patterns, anticipate challenges, and design proactive strategies, rather than reactive ones.
As economist W. Edwards Deming famously said, “In God we trust; all others must bring data.”
Why Data Matters for Jacksonville
Jacksonville is home to over 1 million residents, each with a unique story that begins in early childhood and continues through every stage of life.
That story plays out across:
To truly understand the health of our city, we must connect these stories through data—moving beyond isolated statistics to root cause analysis that uncovers the systems shaping opportunity and well-being.
Benchmarking
Comparing Jacksonville against peer cities, state, and national averages
Segmenting
Breaking down data by neighborhoods, zip codes, and City Council districts
Tracking
Monitoring progress over time
Linking
Connecting each metric to research that explains its real-world impact
What State of Jax Does
While other platforms like the City of Jacksonville’s Transparency Dashboards, JSO Transparency Portal, and Catalyst Northeast Florida provide critical information, State of Jax focuses on economic, education, health, and social metrics compared across City Council districts and against peer cities.
This approach enables policymakers, nonprofits, businesses, educators, and community leaders to align strategies, target resources, and measure progress toward a stronger Jacksonville.
Data as a Catalyst for Collaboration
As physician and statistician Hans Rosling said, “The world cannot be understood without numbers. But the world cannot be understood with numbers alone.”
Data must tell a story—a story that inspires action. State of Jax provides that narrative by revealing gaps, highlighting strengths, and showing how Jacksonville compares to similar cities.
When decisions are guided by evidence, not assumptions, we move from hope to impact. We design programs that address real needs, attract investments where they matter most, and build systems that empower everyone—across neighborhoods, sectors, and generations.
Why This Matters Now
Jacksonville stands at a pivotal moment. As one of America’s fastest-growing cities, the choices we make today will define the opportunities of tomorrow. Data-driven decisions aren’t optional—they’re essential.
State of Jax is more than a dashboard. It’s a call to action. Together, let’s transform aspiration into achievement, and make Jacksonville a destination city for innovation, inclusion, and opportunity.