Interesting checklist from The Atlantic on signs of a healthy city. Definitely more anecdotal than empirical, but some good points for discussion.
The Atlantic: Eleven Signs a City Will Succeed
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/03/eleven-signs-a-city-will-succeed/426885/ (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/03/eleven-signs-a-city-will-succeed/426885/)
I think the author put his finger on several of Jacksonville's shortcomings: no research university (esp. downtown)(#6), underinvestment in community college (#7), anti-immigrant/refugee attitude (#9)(from elected officials, hopefully not so much the general population). On the plus side, we do have unusual schools (#8) and craft breweries (#11)!