Masjid Al Aqsa was the first qibla, and mentioned in the quran, so why is Medina more holy

I love the prophet more than anyone else, and I know that Medina is very holy and I am not trying to discredit it, and I know that Al Aqsa cannot be more holy than the Kaaba, but why is Medina considered more precious than Al Aqsa. Allah made Al Aqsa the first qibla and mentioned "blessing its surroundings" in the quran. I am trying to learn not to criticise.