St. Johns County, Florida
Considering a move to St. Johns County?
A calm notebook for people looking from somewhere else. We are newcomers too. The goal is to help you understand the place before anyone asks you to buy anything.
Explore the countySt. Augustine weather
80°
Partly cloudy
Updated Sep 16, 2026, 1:00 PM
County population
306,934
ACS 2024 5-year
Updated Sep 16, 2026, 5:03 PM
Median home value
$489,200
Census ACS, not MLS
Updated Sep 16, 2026, 5:03 PM
Median household income
$109,839
Census Reporter via U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates
Updated Sep 16, 2026, 5:03 PM
Planning to sell before you move? We can help you find a trusted agent at home.
Why people move here
Beaches, a historic downtown, schools, and no state income tax — plus the heat, storms, and growth that do not make the postcards.
Neighborhoods with a feel
St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, Nocatee, World Golf Village, the beaches, and the Jacksonville-adjacent northwest.
Schools, without the brochure voice
Why the district’s reputation travels, and how to check zoning for an actual address.
What’s happening
Community updates
National Weather Service alerts refresh about every 15 minutes. Seasonal notes stay until they are no longer useful.
Alert · National Weather Service
Rip Current Statement issued September 16 at 1:29PM EDT until September 18 at 5:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.
Sep 16, 2026, 1:29 PM
SourceSeason · Editorial note
Nights of Lights season in St. Augustine
The historic district’s winter lights run from mid-November into January. If you are scouting neighborhoods, this is both beautiful and crowded — plan parking and a weekday walk if you can.
Sep 1, 2026, 8:00 AM
SourceCommunity · Editorial note
First Friday Art Walk cadence
Downtown galleries and Lincolnville studios typically open late on the first Friday of the month. It is one of the easiest ways to feel the town beyond a weekend tourist loop.
Aug 15, 2026, 8:00 AM
Schools · Editorial note
School-year rhythm is a planning tool
St. Johns County schools usually start in early August. If you are moving with kids, visit in session if you can — traffic at CR 210, Race Track Road, and Nocatee Parkway tells a different story in July.
Jul 20, 2026, 8:00 AM
Source
Questions people ask first
- Is St. Johns County a good place to move from out of state?
- Yes, if you want Atlantic beaches, a historic downtown, and a public school district that out-of-state families already search by name. It is also growing quickly, so traffic, new construction, and insurance belong in the same conversation as the postcards. Come in August as well as March if you want the honest version of the week.
- How bad is hurricane risk in St. Johns County?
- This is Atlantic Florida: hurricane season runs June through November, and storm surge and flooding matter as much as wind. Risk is not uniform. A well-built inland house west of the Intracoastal and a dune-front condo are different products that share a county name. Look at elevation, flood zone, roof age, and wind mitigation before you shop for furniture.
- Is there a state income tax in Florida?
- Florida has no state income tax. Property tax, homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and HOA or CDD fees are the costs that actually surprise relocators. Run those numbers against your current budget, not only the listing price.
- Which airport do people use for St. Johns County?
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is the everyday airport for St. Johns County. From Ponte Vedra or northwest St. Johns it is often a half hour to 45 minutes; from historic St. Augustine, plan closer to an hour in ordinary traffic. Daytona Beach and Orlando are farther backups, not the default.
- Should we choose Nocatee or Ponte Vedra?
- Choose Ponte Vedra if the beach and an older coastal canopy matter most; choose Nocatee if you want a master-planned village, pools, and a school-centered week. Plenty of households tour both in the same trip and decide after dinner, not after a spreadsheet. Prices, insurance, and HOA or CDD fees differ, so compare monthly carrying cost, not only the house.
- Are the schools in St. Johns County really that strong?
- St. Johns County School District is consistently among Florida’s highest-performing districts on state measures, which is why families hear the name before they can find the county on a map. That reputation is earned in the aggregate. Zoning still shifts with growth, so confirm the assigned campus for a specific address on the district site instead of trusting a community marketing name. We do not publish live school grades here.