A Local’s Guide to Jacksonville’s Neighborhoods

Finding the perfect neighborhood for you depends exactly on what you’re looking for. Luckily, there are more than five hundred Jacksonville neighborhoods, and you’re guaranteed to find one that works for you.

As a local, I’ve put together a list of my personal favorites to give you a starting point for your search. I’ll help you find the right neighborhood for you in this great city.

Note that this guide is geared to residents or folks moving to Jacksonville. If you’re just visiting, instead, check out my guide on where to stay in Jacksonville, which is geared to tourists.

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My 9 Favorite Neighborhoods in Jacksonville

Riverside Avondale

An architecturally diverse neighborhood with trendy restaurants, businesses, and vintage charm.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: Duval County Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Residence Inn by Marriott Jacksonville Downtown

Riverside-Avondale is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Jacksonville, listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. It’s a hip neighborhood with lots of young people and a thriving nightlife. Whether you’re looking for a trendy boutique or antique store, or just looking for a fun night out, this neighborhood has it.

The Riverside-Avondale neighborhood is home to the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens, Memorial Park, Five Points, beautiful riverfront views, and some of the best food in the city. Downtown Jacksonville, San Marco, Ortega, and the Jacksonville Beaches are all short drives from Riverside Avondale.

Along with its appeal to younger residents, it’s a great area for families, with easy access to the rest of Jacksonville and plenty to do.

Pros of Riverside Avondale

• Trendy
• Plenty to do
• Centralized location
• More walkable than most of Jacksonville
• Diverse and LGBTQ+ friendly
• Lots of locally-owned businesses
• Convenient access to I-95/I-10

Cons of Riverside Avondale

• Historic homes are expensive
• Flooding
• Busy weekends
• Older homes have poor ventilation

San Marco

A historic and trendy neighborhood, filled with unique local attractions and businesses and a distinctive look modeled after the Piazza San Marco in Venice.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: Duval County Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville Downtown Southbank

San Marco is another great, trendy, and historic neighborhood. It’s known for the dining and local stores in the San Marco Square, as well as riverfront mansions. San Marco is a few minutes from Downtown Jacksonville and the Riverside-Avondale neighborhood and less than thirty minutes from Jacksonville Beach.

San Marco is relatively walkable, and it’s easy to access the variety of businesses in the area. The San Marco Square is only a few minutes walk from the riverfront.

Pros of San Marco

• Some of the best restaurants in Jacksonville
• A variety of different local businesses
• Near Downtown Jacksonville, Riverside-Avondale, and other popular areas of town
• Easy access to I-95 and I-10
• Relatively walkable/bikeable
• Historic

Cons of San Marco

• Pricey
• Local businesses can get crowded on weekends
• Flooding

Deerwood

An affluent and family-friendly neighborhood near the St. Johns Town Center and the Fort Family Park.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: Duval County Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Sheraton Jacksonville Hotel

Deerwood is an affluent neighborhood in the Southside of Jacksonville. Deerwood is part of the Duval County Public School District, the 20th largest school district in the nation and the sixth largest in Florida (Source). The Southside is a populous area with a lively day-to-day scene as well as nightlife.

Its proximity to the St. Johns Town Center, the Avenues, Fort Family Park, and the Tinseltown area all provide unique and expansive shopping and dining options. Deerwood is also within twenty minutes of Jacksonville Beach and less than an hour to St. Augustine, one of my favorite Jacksonville day trips.

Deerwood is family-friendly, but rentals and homes for sale can be pricey. There’s also regular construction in the area, and traffic can be heavy. The neighborhood is generally considered one of the safest areas in Jacksonville.

Pros of Deerwood

• Family-friendly
• Near a variety of dining options
• Extremely close to the St. Johns Town Center
• Plenty to do

Cons of Deerwood

• Expensive
• Heavy traffic
• Noisy
• Regular construction
• Not walkable

Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach has beautiful sights, lots of restaurants and hotels, and a fun nightlife.

📍 Google Maps | Neighborhood Website | School Districts: Duval County Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Margaritaville Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach is a great area for anyone looking to enjoy the Jacksonville Beaches and the fun and natural beauty that comes with them. While living near the beaches can be expensive, the local restaurants, bars, and attractions make it worth a look.

Jacksonville Beach is a busy area, and traffic can mount up quickly. There are a variety of living options in the area, from traditional family homes to condominiums and apartment complexes. 

If you’re looking for an area with lively nightlife, there are several local bars like Monkey’s Uncle Tavern, Ritz, and Surfer. The Beaches Town Center between Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach offers several dining options.

Accommodations are plentiful, with wheelchair accessibility at the Beach Pier and a variety of kid-friendly options in the local area.

Pros of Jacksonville Beach

• Beautiful beaches
• Great food
• Lively nightlife

Cons of Jacksonville Beach

• Pricey
• A drive to most other areas of Jacksonville
• Traffic

Northside

A more rustic, old-school Florida, with an emphasis on outdoor activities and history.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: Duval County Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Home2 Suites By Hilton Jacksonville Airport

The Northside is a great area for those interested in a more rural and outdoorsy atmosphere. The Northside feels significantly quieter and more relaxed, but isn’t terribly out of the way from other parts of Jacksonville. Living in Oceanway puts you less than half an hour from Downtown Jacksonville.

Home to the Jacksonville International Airport, the Northside has more to do for nature-lovers than the rest of the city. Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve, Little Talbot Island State Park, Huguenot Memorial Park, and more offer beautiful sights and rich Floridian history. I highly recommend the area’s Jacksonville Zoo as one of the must-see Jacksonville attractions.

Areas in the Northside are also typically more affordable. The median rent is about $1,500 a month, with the average home cost coming in around $320,000. Duval County Public Schools has several schools in the Northside, and FSCJ’s North Campus can be found on Capper Road.

Pros of the Northside

• Lots of parks and outdoor areas
• Access to the Jacksonville International Airport
• Access to I-95
• Growing area

Cons of the Northside

• Things can be spread out
• Slightly higher crime rate

Fleming Island

An affluent, family-friendly area with lots of natural beauty and things to do.

📍 Google Maps | Neighborhood Website | School Districts: Clay County School District | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Fleming Island is an affluent, family-friendly area in Clay County, surrounded by water and near several parks and trails. Locals have access to a variety of businesses, good schools, and a multitude of things to do. Golf courses, pools, docks, and other amenities are not uncommon.

Fleming Island is pricey, with the average rent for all bedroom types being around $2,000 a month. The median home cost is regularly going up, selling between $450,000 and $500,000 on average, and you can expect to pay HOA fees in most areas.

Pros of Fleming Island

• Several parks and trails
• Family-friendly
• Lots to do

Cons of Fleming Island

• A drive from the rest of Jacksonville
• Very expensive

Mandarin

This Southside neighborhood has good local schools, large oak trees, and a great park, all while being within twenty minutes of most of the greater Jacksonville area.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: Duval County Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Tru By Hilton Jacksonville South Mandarin, Fl

Mandarin is a neighborhood near the St. Johns River, south of San Marco. It’s characterized by the old oak trees around the area, gorgeous riverfront views, and outdoor activities. Mandarin has multiple fun annual and holiday-themed festivals in the area.

Mandarin has many great local food and drink options. The local parks are some of the best in the city. I recommend the Mandarin Museum and Walter Jones Historical Park. It provides a comprehensive and fascinating look into the history of the neighborhood.

A lack of rental options is an issue in Mandarin, and what is available can be expensive. That said, Mandarin is a great option for families, retirees, or young people hoping to settle down for the foreseeable future.

Pros of Mandarin

• Lots of amenities
• Riverfront views
• Safe
• Nice parks

Cons of Mandarin

• Lack of rental options
• Available rentals can be expensive

Orange Park

Across from Mandarin is this suburb with shopping and activities, including Orange Park Mall, as well as access to the water.

📍 Google Maps | Neighborhood Website | School Districts: Clay County School District | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Hampton Inn and Suites Jacksonville/Orange Park, FL

Orange Park is across the water and opposite Mandarin and is a particularly good area for anyone who frequently shops and dines out. The Orange Park Mall is the main hub for shopping, with an attached AMC Theater, but there are a variety of businesses.

Orange Park has a population of around 9,000. Orange Park is in the Clay County School District and has several public schools in and right outside of the town limits. 

My first apartment was actually in Orange Park, so I speak from experience when I say that the cost of living isn’t as high as some of the other popular neighborhoods in Jacksonville. The average rental cost is between $1,400 and $1,800, and the average home costs a little over $300,000.

Pros of Orange Park

• Lots of things to do
• Access to the mall and a large movie theater
• Within thirty minutes of other Jacksonville hubs
• Affordable

Cons of Orange Park

• Extremely bad traffic
• Some areas are less developed than others

Downtown Jacksonville

The heart of Jacksonville and a busy hub with hidden gems and local events.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: Duval County Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Marriott Jacksonville Downtown

Downtown Jacksonville is a great centralized area where you can find local businesses, events, a large public library, and a fantastic art museum. There are plenty of hidden gems to be found, as well. 

The median home price is roughly $235,000 (source), and the rent is about $1,500 a month for most properties (source). This makes it relatively affordable compared to some of the more affluent areas.

While visiting, you can enjoy the nightlife at bars like the Volstead or enjoy an afternoon at the Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Every first Wednesday of the month is the Art Walk at the James Weldon Johnson Park. The Main Library, Sweet Pete’s, and Chamblin’s Bookmine are all within walking distance. The First Wednesday Art Walk makes for a great way to experience a lot of what downtown has to offer in a day.

Pros of Downtown Jacksonville

• Central location
• Local events
• Access to a great public library
• Within thirty minutes of pretty much anywhere else in the city

Cons of Downtown Jacksonville

• Extremely busy
• Loud
• With the events comes a lot of litter
• Can be crowded

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Thank you for reading, and I hope you’ve found the neighborhood for you in this expansive city. If you’re planning on exploring the city, please check out my Jacksonville itinerary.

(Featured Image Credit: Lynne Neuman / Shutterstock)