April 25, 2023
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Moving to a new city is always challenging. And a large part of that challenge is looking for a place to live, especially when you have a family. All of this can be quite overwhelming. But don’t stress. We’ve researched the best suburbs in Jacksonville for you, so you don’t have to (oh, and by way of introduction, we’re Bellhop —Jacksonville movers and movers throughout the country).

You’ve most likely seen the neighborhood section in our Jacksonville City Guide. This list is a more in-depth neighborhood guide.

best suburbs in Jacksonville

A Little About Jacksonville’s Neighborhoods

There are more than 500 neighborhoods in the Jacksonville, Florida, area. That’s a lot. But as the largest city in the contiguous United States by area, it’s not surprising. The greater Jacksonville area is divided into several major sections: Northside, Westside, Southside, Arlington (what happened to the Eastside?), and the Jacksonville Beaches area. As you’ll discover in this guide, because the city is so spread out, some of the suburbs we list here may actually be within the city limits rather than outliers as traditionally defined.

Springfield

This is a comeback story, if there’s ever been one. When the Great Fire of 1901 nearly destroyed all of downtown Jacksonville, the Springfield neighborhood was spared. But that doesn’t mean it was easy for this area of town to bounce back. It wasn’t, and it took years for the neighborhood to prosper again. But there’s a reason Southern Living named Springfield one of the top comeback neighborhoods in the South. Modern-day Springfield is one of the most attractive areas in Jacksonville due to its beautiful architecture, gridded streets, and walkability. Though this community isn’t quite fully rehabilitated, it’s getting there. And it’s perfect for anyone looking to become part of an up-and-coming neighborhood less than two miles from downtown. While the area is not pedestrian-friendly, the neighborhood is very bikeable

What’s Happening in Springfield

Springfield’s neighborhood association is active, with regular meetings and events for residents to take part in, such as community dinners and beer pairings. It’s also close to a variety of restaurants, bars, attractions and shops in the downtown area.

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Schools in Springfield

Springfield Middle School is a highly-rated public magnet school in the neighborhood that ranks the third best standout middle school in the Jacksonville area. Stanton College Preparatory School is another highly-rated school, ranking the best public school in the area for its academics, teachers, and college prep. .

Homes in Springfield

Springfield contains some of the best examples of late 19th-century and early 20th-century architecture in the city. The neighborhood is known for its Queen Anne and Prairie-style homes. The median home price is around $250,000, which is much lower than the national average. The cost to rent an apartment in Springfield is $1,360 a month.

Neptune Beach

Neptune Beach is known as one of the top suburbs in Jacksonville. A city of just over 7,000 residents, it’s located in Duval County on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s about just over 30 miles  outside of Jacksonville. Because it’s a beach, residents enjoy plenty of swimming, sunbathing, and surfing. Sure, there are plenty of other things to do you’re living on the beach! What could be better than that?

What’s Happening in Neptune Beach

Besides the beach, there’s Jarboe Park, with playgrounds, a lake, walking trails, and sports courts. As far as eating and drinking, we recommend North Beach Fish Camp and The Flying Iguana Taqueria and Tequila Bar. Grocery stores include Lucky’s Market and Native Sun Natural Foods Market. And there’s plenty of other shopping there as well, like Beaches Town Center, various boutiques and gift shops, as well as a flurry of surf shops.

Schools in Neptune Beach

Neptune Beach is part of the Duval County Public Schools system, with many residents sending their kids to Neptune Beach Elementary, which was named one of the top ten public elementary schools in the county. There are a couple of private schools as well including the Beaches Chapel School, which is rated as an above-average private school, but is listed as one of the top ten Christian high schools in the Jacksonville area.

Homes in Neptune Beach

Neptune Beach is filled with beachfront cottages, modern townhomes, and bungalows. The average list price for homes is just over $600,000. . Apartments rent for $1,765 a month with luxury condos coming in a bit higher, depending on the number of bedrooms.

Sawgrass

If you’re a golf fan, you’re already familiar with Sawgrass, which is known for The Players Championship from the PGA Tour. If you don’t like golf, you might want to skip this entry because it’s pretty golf-centric. Located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Sawgrass is a residential area with 38 smaller neighborhoods within a larger gated community. It’s about 25 miles from Jacksonville. This is an exclusive community, and by exclusive, we mean wealthy. It’s by the ocean and beautiful, and it’s got the TPC Sawgrass Golf Course nearby.

What’s Happening in Sawgrass

Though there are things to do in Sawgrass, if golf isn’t your thing, or hanging out with golfers at the Sawgrass Country Club, or going to the beach, then this isn’t the community for you.

Schools in Sawgrass

Part of the Broward County Public Schools System, which is ranked the second best school district in the Miami area, Sawgrass offers a few public school choices such as Sawgrass Springs Middle School, which ranks as an above-average public school for grades 6-8. And there are private school choices such as Sawgrass Adventist School for grades K-8.

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Homes in Sawgrass

There are a variety of options in Sawgrass, from modern waterfront condos to huge Mediterranean-style homes to bungalows and Craftsman-style homes. Houses average $650,000 with prices going into the millions for new builds and waterfront homes.  Apartments rent for $1,825 a month. 

best suburbs in Jacksonville

Nocatee

Like Sawgrass, this is a master-planned community. It’s got one of the lowest crime rates around and is a place that provides residents with employment opportunities, shopping, schools, recreation, along with a variety of homes. Located in Ponte Vedra, about 27 miles from downtown Jacksonville,, Nocatee is the third best-selling community in America. It’s got a number of neighborhoods in the area to choose from, with residents ranging from young couples and families to active adults.

What’s Happening in Nocatee

Nocatee has plenty of things to do at the Nocatee Town Center, with all sorts of dining and shopping options. There’s also the Nocatee Splash Water Park, which is a hit with the kids, and the Nocatee Community Park, a great place to run around and get some energy out. Residents also have easy access to the beach and nearby golf courses.

Schools in Nocatee

Families with children can send them to schools within St. Johns County and Duval County. Because Nocatee is still a newer community, it’s got big plans for schools within the community, with reserved land for five elementary schools and one middle school. The goal is to have an elementary school within walking or biking distance from most homes. For now, see which schools are zoned for Nocatee, like Bartram Springs Elementary School, which is ranked as one of the top five public elementary schools in the county, Twin Lakes Middle School or Atlantic Coast High School, which ranks as the number five niche standout high school in the Jacksonville area. 

Homes in Nocatee

Nocatee offers a variety of home sizes throughout. Each neighborhood has its own feel. The community is great for first-time home buyers or those looking at second and third homes, with luxury estates, townhomes, village homes, and neo-traditional homes. Most people own their homes in Nocatee, but there are also a few condos that rent for $3,000 a month. Home prices have increased in the past few years, with the average sales price hittign $650,000. 

Orange Park

The town of Orange Park is in the northeastern part of Florida, about 20 miles  outside of Jacksonville. It’s got a rich history dating back to 1877. This is a great community for commuting, with plenty of things to do within the area and easy access to all that Jacksonville has to offer.

What’s Happening in Orange Park

Not only are the beaches and Jacksonville nearby, but there’s plenty to do within the city as well. Orange Park has many parks like Clarke House Park, Town Hall Park, and Somer’s Sunshine Park (what a great name, too), to name a few. The town holds annual community-wide events like a fall festival, a July 4th celebration, Kids’ Fest and more. There’s also the Orange Park Farmers and Arts Market. The Orange Park Mall is a great place to get your shopping done as well.

Schools in Orange Park

Residents can send their kids to Orange Park Elementary School, which is ranked the second best public elementary school in the county, or Orange Park High School. The schools arepart of the Clay County School District, which is ranked as the second-best district in the Jacksonville area.

Homes in Orange Park

Because the town sits on the west bank of the St. Johns River, many of the homes in Orange Park are on the higher end of the price range due to their waterfront location. But there are a number of houses that are more rural, with newer construction offering more modern and affordable houses. Prices start at $337,000.  There are a variety of homes and apartments for rent in Orange Park, with an average cost of $1,434 per month.

There you have it: the best suburbs in Jacksonville, FL

Neighborhoods are about location and lifestyle, to be sure. But they are also about the people who live in them. These neighborhoods offer a variety of lifestyles to meet most anyone’s needs. We hope this guide to the best suburbs in Jacksonville helps you make the right choice to fit your lifestyle.

If you decide to move in or to Jacksonville, don’t hesitate to reach out. Need to move quickly? We also provide last minute moving services in Jacksonville!

Good luck with your move to the Jacksonville suburbs,

Interested in learning more about Jacksonville? Check out our other guides to Jacksonville

Harrison Stevens
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