Hot Markets: Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville's population exceeds 1 million. Residents of this financial and medical capital of the South enjoy the temperate climate, year-round leisure activities and miles of clean, sparkling beaches. Jacksonville attracts many visitors for surfing, swimming, windsurfing, fishing and waterskiing.

Jacksonville has a diversified economy that includes service, transportation, medical and insurance industries. The city's annual employment growth rate is 4.7 percent, while unemployment, at 3.6 percent, is consistently below both state and national levels.

Its housing market is ranked as one of the most affordable in the country. By combining all city services in the late 1960s, when Jacksonville's citizens voted to consolidate city and county government, taxes and municipal costs were greatly reduced. Also, Florida has no state income tax.

Jacksonville has five regional shopping centers, a zoo, two major museums, eight galleries, a symphony orchestra, and several theaters and nightclubs. The educational system offers nearly 250 public and private schools and 14 regional colleges and universities.