Jax Beach offers both an oceanfront lifestyle close to downtown Jacksonville employers
Out of San Pablo Island's unspoiled sand dunes and grassy marshes grew the thriving community of Jacksonville Beach. Affectionately called "Jax Beach," the city offers miles of uninterrupted shoreline bordered by a vibrant city center. The city's population of around 23,500 people nearly triples in the summer months, when tourists flock to Jacksonville Beach's hotels and vacation rentals to enjoy relaxing days on the sand and the city's nightlife. However, Jax Beach isn't just a hotspot for vacationers. "We have tourists, but we also have a lot of young families here," says Realtor Shawn O'Neill from JPAR City and Beach. O'Neill has over 13 years of experience selling in the area. "We call the Intracoastal Waterway 'The Ditch,' and if you want to be east of the ditch, Jax Beach has great elementary schools, a lot of starter homes and a much more budget-friendly cost of living compared to some surrounding communities."
Many Jacksonville Beach residents work in local tourism or Duval County's main industries, which include healthcare, manufacturing, aviation and aerospace technology. Residents may commute to downtown Jacksonville for work, which is 17 miles away.
Spend the day at the Jax Beach Pier or South Beach Park
Life in Jacksonville Beach revolves around its 4 miles of public shoreline. The golden sands draw sunbathers, and surfers enjoy waves known for their consistency and quality. Several dune walkovers line the boardwalk, with public restrooms available every few blocks. The Jax Beach Pier is lined with anglers of all ages waiting for their daily catch, and the lifeguard-monitored beaches are often filled with locals and tourists soaking up the sun.
In addition to being close to the oceanfront, over half of Jacksonville Beach's residents are within a 10-minute walk from one of the city's nine parks. These include South Beach Park, where kids enter the Sunshine Playground, known as one of the best in the Jacksonville area, through an iconic mermaid arch.
Starter homes and luxury condos east of the Intracoastal Waterway
The median sale price in Jacksonville Beach is $660,000, higher than the state and national figures. High-rise condominiums, hotels and luxury homes line the oceanfront, and subdivisions of midcentury homes, New Traditionals and townhouses unfurl into the marshes of the Intracoastal Waterway. Homes between Seventh Street and the oceanfront are in a designated Special Flood Hazard Area, with the highest risk of hurricane-related flooding. Homeowners in this area must purchase flood insurance and get special permits for new construction projects.
Duval County’s themed magnet schools
Local students may attend Duval County Public Schools, earning a B overall rating from Niche. Some of the district's best schools, including the A-minus-rated Jacksonville Beach Elementary School, are in Jacksonville Beach. Students may apply to themed magnet schools throughout the district, with options such as science, aviation or language immersion. A new half-penny sales tax funds a school district plan to build new schools and improve existing buildings throughout the district.
Surf shops, seafood shacks and the Seawalk Pavilion
The boardwalk is the heart of Jax Beach, filled with local boutiques, surf shops, bars and restaurants. A block over, First Street offers more eateries and shops. Patrons dine al fresco at seafood shacks or cool off in upscale sushi restaurants or Irish pubs. "One of the biggest things here is that we still mostly have mom-and-pop shops—there aren't a lot of chains. We still have a very locally driven economy." Jacksonville Beach's popular bar scene is concentrated north of Beach Boulevard between Third Street and the oceanfront, and more big box retail is located south on the A1A. The Seawalk Pavilion is home to the city's biggest cultural and arts events, including the quarterly Jax Beach Arts Market and the two-day Florida Fin Fest, an ocean conservation festival.
Commuting from Jax Beach
The two major roads through Jacksonville Beach are Beach Boulevard (U.S. Highway 90), which stretches 17 miles to downtown Jacksonville over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Bridge, and Third Street (A1A Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway), a north-south road that travels the 19-mile length of the barrier island. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority bus makes several stops along Third Street and Beach Boulevard, connecting Jacksonville Beach to downtown Jacksonville and neighboring communities like Neptune Beach. Bikes are a popular form of transportation, especially along First Street's dedicated bike lanes. The Jacksonville International Airport is 32 miles from Jacksonville Beach. The closest hospital is the city's Baptist Medical Center Beaches.
Classic Florida climate
Jacksonville Beach has a very warm climate, and temperatures rarely drop below freezing. Though Jacksonville Beach is at risk of hurricanes, air currents off the East Coast typically push Atlantic storms north toward the Carolinas, keeping the risk of a direct hit relatively low.
Low crime in Jax Beach
With a CAP Index Crime Score of four out of 10, Jacksonville Beach's crime risk is on par with the national rate. Jacksonville Beach is generally safe for permanent residents, but summer brings more people and property crime to the tourist areas east of Third Street.
Photography Contributed By
Gian Lorenzo Ferretti
