Dawn Spencer REALTOR® · Hi Real Estate

Why Northeast Florida

Water everywhere, real seasons, and room to breathe.

Northeast Florida gives you the ocean, the river, and the marsh, without South Florida's crowds or year-round heat. Here's why so many people are choosing to move here.

By Dawn Spencer · Last updated

By the Numbers

Northeast Florida at a glance

1,100 milesof navigable water in the Jacksonville area
22 milesof Atlantic beaches in Duval County alone
80,000+ acresof parks: the largest urban park system in the U.S.
310 mileslong: the St. Johns River, Florida's longest river
40 milesof the Intracoastal Waterway within the city
$0Florida state income tax

Sources: Visit Jacksonville, City of Jacksonville, and Visit Florida.

Life on the Water

A boater's paradise

  • The St. Johns River: one of the few rivers in North America that flows north, wide enough to sail through the heart of downtown
  • The Intracoastal Waterway: protected inland water for cruising, fishing, and paddling all the way up to Amelia Island and down to St. Augustine
  • Dozens of public boat ramps and marinas, plus waterfront restaurants you can reach by boat
  • Offshore access through the St. Johns inlet at Mayport
  • Fishing year-round: redfish and trout in the marshes, flounder along the jetties, and offshore trips from Mayport
  • Paddling and kayaking through salt marsh creeks in the Timucuan Preserve and Guana Reserve
Boats on the St. Johns River beneath the blue Main Street Bridge
Boating beneath the Main Street Bridge Photo: Dedrick L. Smith · Unsplash License
Downtown Jacksonville skyline over the St. Johns River at sunset
The St. Johns River at sunset Photo: Trevor Neely · Unsplash License
Wide sandy beach and ocean along Jacksonville Beach on a sunny day
Jacksonville Beach Photo: Lance Asper · Unsplash License
A surfer riding a breaking wave
Surf's up on the Atlantic coast Photo: Rob Wilson · Unsplash License

Beaches

Wide beaches with room to spread out

  • Miles of wide, hard-packed sand from Amelia Island to Ponte Vedra, with plenty of space even on summer weekends compared with South Florida's busiest beaches
  • Surf breaks at the Jacksonville Beach pier, the Mayport Poles, and up and down the coast
  • Quieter, natural beaches at Little Talbot Island State Park, Hanna Park, and the Guana Reserve
  • Beach towns with their own personalities: Atlantic, Neptune, and Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra, Fernandina Beach

Nature

Wild places, minutes from home

Wildlife

Dolphins in the river and Intracoastal, manatees in warm months, sea turtles nesting on the beaches, and right whales calving offshore in winter.

History

St. Augustine, founded in 1565, is the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the continental U.S., under an hour south.

Climate

Real seasons, mild winters

  • Winter: crisp and mild, with January highs typically in the mid-60s and lows in the low-40s, cool enough for a fireplace and a jacket
  • Spring: azaleas and dogwoods, and the best weather of the year for golf and boating
  • Summer: hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, cooled by the ocean breeze at the beaches
  • Fall: warm water into October and comfortable, drier days

Compared with South Florida, Northeast Florida has noticeable seasons and cooler winters.

About hurricanes: direct hurricane landfalls on this stretch of coast have been rare, with Hurricane Dora in 1964 the best-known. But storms passing offshore, like Matthew in 2016 and Irma in 2017, still caused flooding. Insurance, flood zones, and preparation matter here. See the insurance and flood guide.

Jobs & Industry

A growing, diverse economy

Logistics & the port

JAXPORT, three major railroads, and the I-95/I-10 interchange make the region a distribution hub. Amazon is the area's largest private employer.

Finance & fintech

Headquarters of FIS, Fidelity National Financial, and Florida Blue, plus major operations for national banks.

Corporate headquarters

CSX, Landstar, Crowley, and Southeastern Grocers are among the companies headquartered here.

No state income tax

Florida doesn't tax personal income, which makes a real difference for relocating professionals and retirees.

Military savings

Three installations mean commissaries, Navy Exchanges, and MWR facilities close to home for active duty, retirees, and eligible veterans, which stretches a household budget.

Commissary & NEX access

Things to Do

Golf, game days, and live music

Living in Jacksonville What's Live Tonight (Livedrp) Relocation Guide

Questions about moving here

How many miles of waterways does Jacksonville have?

Visit Jacksonville cites about 1,100 miles of navigable water in the area, including roughly 40 miles of the Intracoastal Waterway within the city and the longest stretch of the St. Johns River in Florida.

Is Jacksonville's weather different from South Florida's?

Yes. Northeast Florida has a humid subtropical climate with noticeable seasons: hot summers, but cool winters, with January highs typically in the mid-60s and lows in the low-40s at Jacksonville's airport. South Florida stays warm year-round.

What are the major industries in Jacksonville?

Logistics and the port (JAXPORT), health care (Mayo Clinic, Baptist Health, UF Health), financial services and fintech, the military, and aviation and manufacturing. Several national companies are headquartered here, including CSX, FIS, Fidelity National Financial, Landstar, Crowley, and Florida Blue.

Does Northeast Florida get hurricanes?

Direct hurricane landfalls on this stretch of coast have been rare, with Hurricane Dora in 1964 the best-known. But storms passing offshore, like Matthew in 2016 and Irma in 2017, have still caused flooding, so insurance, flood zones, and preparation matter here.

Free Packet

Want this as a PDF? Email me the relocation packet.

Why here, how to move, schools, neighborhoods: 6 guides from this site in one branded PDF, sent personally with a short note. No drip campaign, no spam.

Email me the relocation packet

Next Step

Relocation guideTaxes, insurance, licenses, and timing.Neighborhood guidesFind the right part of the region.Schools & collegesPublic, charter, private, and the universities.Visiting & house-huntingPlan the trip.St. Augustine guideThe nation's oldest city, under an hour south.

Let's talk about where you're headed.

Buying, selling, building, or just exploring your options, call or text me any time.

Call 904-608-0016 Text Me Send a Message Book a Call

Dawn Spencer, REALTOR® · Hi Real Estate