Looking in Jacksonville, Fl

[Asabino]

Looking to possibly relocate to Florida, near the Jacksonville area. Looking online at Doctor's Lake, Fleming Island or St Augustine area. Moved out of Santa Cruz, California to Jasper, Tennessee. For us, it's just too cold and not very close to civilization. Beautiful area but we need to be closer to doctors, hospitals, restaurants, etc...

Anybody live close to these areas that can provide any feedback/recommendations? We know it'll be a little hot and muggy but what else can you folks pass on to us?

 

[Dtail]

ShokWaveRider - a very informative poster, lives in the St Augustine area. Hopefully he will come along to post.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

Look at Switzerland along the St Johns River. I think it's a great location if I was to move north.

 

[Lewis Clark]

I used to live in Jacksonville, in the East Arlington area on the northeast side about 30 years ago. Liked it a lot. Probably many changes since then.

 

[silvor]

Jax is the biggest city by area, so each ward is very different. It’s like multiple cities in one.

 

[Asabino]

Fleming Island and Doctor’s Lake are my preferred locations.

 

[COcheesehead]

My brother lives in Fernandina Beach and he likes it.

 

[Koogie]

My brother lives in Fernandina Beach and he likes it.

+1. I've been to Fernandina Beach for both business and pleasure and always really liked the area. A bit of "old Florida"

 

[wrigley]

I'm in Jacksonville near NS Mayport. Been here since 1993. You can live in Jacksonville and be 70 miles away from someone else who lives in Jacksonville. Growing like a weed.

 

[wrigley]

Fleming Island and Doctor’s Lake are my preferred locations.

Both nice ares. Doctor's Lake is an older area than Fleming Island.

 

[wrigley]

I used to live in Jacksonville, in the East Arlington area on the northeast side about 30 years ago. Liked it a lot. Probably many changes since then.

I'm actually very near Atlantic and Kernan!

 

[Asabino]

My brother lives in Fernandina Beach and he likes it.

A friend of ours lives on Amelia Island. Love it. We may look there as well.

 

[Koolau]

I'd be tempted to go to St. Augustine instead of Jax. It's been 13 years since we've been there but it seemed a bit more "small town" by comparison. I loved the area.

 

[FlaGator]

I'd be tempted to go to St. Augustine instead of Jax. It's been 13 years since we've been there but it seemed a bit more "small town" by comparison. I loved the area.

I evaluated JAX for a relo after the last kid moved out. I like the SE Duval/Ponte Verde (Flagler County, north of STA proper) and visit friends there 1-2X/year. Decided to stay in the western Panhandle for now for COL and proximity to friends and the kids.

May end up there eventually - health care, retail and dining are good. Just not now.

 

[wyecrabber1]

We moved to St. Augustine (St. Johns County) about six years ago from Maryland. Let’s see—the beaches, fishing and kayaking, golf, the live music vibe, and no state income tax are all big pluses. St. Johns County also has three of the top 10 planned communities in the U.S. based on sales: SilverLeaf, Rivertown, and Nocatee. Most communities have HOAs—some good, some not so good.


Healthcare is excellent and close by, with Mayo, Baptist, and Ascension all within a short drive.


That said, growth has been pretty much unchecked. A lot of people complain about traffic and the loss of open space. The heat from July through September can be brutal. Utilities are generally reasonable, except for water. In Maryland our quarterly water bill was about $30; in Florida, it’s not unusual to see a monthly bill of $100–$200, depending on property size. And yes—there are bugs and snakes.


I’d also take a look at the panhandle. We travel to the west coast of Florida a couple of times a year, anywhere from Clearwater/St. Pete up to Santa Rosa.


Good luck with your search.

 

[FlaGator]

I evaluated JAX for a relo after the last kid moved out. I like the SE Duval/Ponte Verde (Flagler County, north of STA proper) and visit friends there 1-2X/year. Decided to stay in the western Panhandle for now for COL and proximity to friends and the kids.

May end up there eventually - health care, retail and dining are good. Just not now.

I got the county wrong, as others have said, it is St. Johns County that is immediately south of Jax/Duval County.

Flagler County is immediately south of St. Johns County/St. Augustine.

 

[Asabino]

We moved to St. Augustine (St. Johns County) about six years ago from Maryland. Let’s see—the beaches, fishing and kayaking, golf, the live music vibe, and no state income tax are all big pluses. St. Johns County also has three of the top 10 planned communities in the U.S. based on sales: SilverLeaf, Rivertown, and Nocatee. Most communities have HOAs—some good, some not so good.


Healthcare is excellent and close by, with Mayo, Baptist, and Ascension all within a short drive.


That said, growth has been pretty much unchecked. A lot of people complain about traffic and the loss of open space. The heat from July through September can be brutal. Utilities are generally reasonable, except for water. In Maryland our quarterly water bill was about $30; in Florida, it’s not unusual to see a monthly bill of $100–$200, depending on property size. And yes—there are bugs and snakes.


I’d also take a look at the panhandle. We travel to the west coast of Florida a couple of times a year, anywhere from Clearwater/St. Pete up to Santa Rosa.


Good luck with your search.

Thank you! Great information!

 

[ClippedWings]

We lived in Eagle Harbor for about 3 years and loved it. Job relocation forced us to leave. That said you can’t go wrong with Ponte Vedra, Fernandina Beach or St Augustine.

Depends on your hobbies. Climate and culture is more like South Georgia than rest of FL. Love the Live Oak trees and water and the beaches are actually pretty great. Not as powdery as panhandle, but still nice. The ocean tends to be churned up and isn’t that pretty color you get down near Miami or on the panhandle or even down near Sarasota.

 

[Koolau]

We moved to St. Augustine (St. Johns County) about six years ago from Maryland. Let’s see—the beaches, fishing and kayaking, golf, the live music vibe, and no state income tax are all big pluses. St. Johns County also has three of the top 10 planned communities in the U.S. based on sales: SilverLeaf, Rivertown, and Nocatee. Most communities have HOAs—some good, some not so good.


Healthcare is excellent and close by, with Mayo, Baptist, and Ascension all within a short drive.


That said, growth has been pretty much unchecked. A lot of people complain about traffic and the loss of open space. The heat from July through September can be brutal. Utilities are generally reasonable, except for water. In Maryland our quarterly water bill was about $30; in Florida, it’s not unusual to see a monthly bill of $100–$200, depending on property size. And yes—there are bugs and snakes.

Right. One thing you learn when you look around a bit: NO place is perfect. We live in "Paradise" and, trust me, it's not perfect. Way better than most places we've seen, but still wishing for more, better, perfect. Not in this life-time. Hopefully, in the next.

 

[projectmaximus]

I was born and raised in Jax and then spent most of my adult life either living or spending part of the year there. Right up until 2022 when we moved full time to Asia, I was still doing about 1-2 months in Jax each year. Last few years has been just one week each.

I'll say if it weren't for the huge positive bump I give it for being my hometown and having lots of my friends and family, I personally wouldn't like it all that much. But I think you're 100% on the right track if you're looking for that middle ground closer to civilization. And warmer weather.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Honestly, living in St. Augustine Proper is wonderful. As opposed to WGV, Silverleaf, Rivertown, Trailmark, Pointe Vedra (PV) and Nocatee, which are not really in St. Augustine but right on the outskirts. We are close to everything we need, from world class healthcare to a beautiful beach, a pretty historic town just 5 miles north and everything we need for day to day life. I am not a fan of Duval county (Jacksonville, Jax) but that is just me. Steer clear of the North side if you are considering Jax, too much crime mor my liking.

Basically I would say South St. Johns County as opposed Mid to North. traffic is very tolerable in comparison to the constant congestion of Nocatee and PV. How long it is going to stay like that who knows, but for now it is quite tolerable. Anastasia Island is very nice and has that beachy vibe. St. Johns County is very well run for the most part, they do need to slow down on the new housing developments though.

If I was just moving here I would also consider Palm Coast although close to the Parkway does come with a lot of traffic. But they have everything one needs.