Living in St. Johns County, FL: Find Where You Fit
Living in St. Johns County, Florida: Find Where You Fit
If you’re thinking about buying a home in Northeast Florida, St. Johns County will probably end up on your list. You’ll find newer communities with pools and trails, established neighborhoods, beach areas, and the historic streets of St. Augustine.
But those places can feel very different from one another. The goal is to find the area that fits your everyday life, along with a home you love.
St. Johns or St. Johns County?
When someone says “St. Johns,” they may mean the northern suburban area with a St. Johns mailing address. St. Johns County covers a much larger area, including Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine, and coastal communities farther south.
That matters when you’re browsing homes online. Two homes in the same county could put you in very different places for work, beach days, or visiting family.
Newer communities with plenty to do close to home
If you’re picturing a newer home in a community with pools, trails, and gathering spaces, there are options worth exploring here.
Nocatee has water parks and trails connecting community destinations. RiverTown offers a different setting along the St. Johns River, with a boardwalk and kayak launch among its RiverClub amenities. www.nocatee.com
I suggest comparing the community just as closely as the house. Think about which amenities you’d actually use, how close they are to the home, and what’s already open versus planned.
Leave some time to explore beyond the model home, too. Drive around, grab lunch, and see how the area feels.
Different areas, different lifestyles
Here are a few places to start your search:
| Area | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Northern St. Johns and Julington Creek area | Compare established neighborhoods and newer communities, along with your route into Jacksonville. |
| Nocatee and Ponte Vedra | Explore community amenities, trails, and the actual drive from each neighborhood to your daily destinations. |
| Ponte Vedra Beach | Consider coastal living, beach access, and the condition and upkeep of individual homes. |
| World Golf Village and central county | Compare the communities themselves and their distance from work, shopping, and St. Augustine. |
| St. Augustine and nearby beach areas | Decide how close you want to be to historic streets, restaurants, beach access, and visitor activity. |
Beach days can be part of life here
St. Augustine Beach, photographed in 2019. Photo by Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Unmodified.
The county’s coast includes Ponte Vedra Beach, Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach, and Crescent Beach. There are different spots to explore depending on how you like to spend your beach day. www.floridashistoriccoast.com
I personally love Porpoise Point. It’s one I’d add to your list when you’re getting to know the area.
Keep in mind that living in St. Johns County doesn’t automatically mean living close to the ocean. If you want spontaneous evening beach walks, that’s a different search from being happy to drive over for the day.
Historic St. Augustine adds another side to living here
Acosta House on St. George Street, photographed in 2020. Photo by w_lemay / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Unmodified.
St. Augustine brings historic surroundings, local shops, restaurants, and places to explore on foot into the mix. It offers a different experience from a newer suburban community with an amenity center. www.floridashistoriccoast.com
You don’t have to live downtown to enjoy it. You might love visiting for dinner or an afternoon, then heading home to a quieter neighborhood. Or you may want that atmosphere closer to your front door.
Spend some time exploring both before deciding.
Look at what everyday life will cost you in time and money
Before choosing a home, look beyond the listing photos.
Test your commute at the time you’d normally travel. Check the drive to groceries, appointments, activities, and anyone you want to be close to.
Compare the full property costs, including taxes, insurance, HOA dues, and any CDD assessments. For new communities, review the current documents and which amenities are included.
If schools are part of your decision, verify the exact address through the district’s attendance-zone locator for the appropriate school year. www.stjohns.k12.fl.us
And if there’s vacant land nearby, take a look at the county’s development tracker so you can understand what may be planned around the neighborhood. www.sjcfl.us
Let’s find where you fit
You don’t need to know exactly which neighborhood you want before reaching out. That’s something we can work through together.
If you’re planning to buy a home in St. Johns County, let’s start with a quick Zoom to talk about your budget, timing, and what matters most in your everyday life.
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