Florida is a state filled with tourist hotspots like Miami, Orlando and Daytona. But hard-working Jacksonville is too often overlooked. The underappreciated Atlantic Coast locale is a city of contrasts. It’s commercial and industrial, never thought of as glamourous. But it’s also a coastal city, beach-adjacent, with charming sands just across the Intracoastal. It’s a true Florida getaway for sun-seekers and snowbirds. But it also keeps a foot in the Deep South, only 25 miles from the Georgia border.
It’s also the largest city in the nation, by area. Coming in at a giant 750,000 miles, no other continental U.S. city covers as much territory. One reason is Jacksonville’s expansive parkland and public spaces. The city features both the largest urban park system in the country and the third-largest naval complex.
That’s a lot of space for its 900,000 residents. And there are plenty of places to spread out. Miami what makes Jacksonville’s collection of neighborhoods so special. And plentiful. There are over 500 distinct neighborhoods in The River City, divvied up into six regions.
So, of all that space and all those places, which are the best neighborhoods in Jacksonville? We looked at quality apartment living and residential architecture, proximity to amazing eats and plentiful parks, as well as the cost of living and other factors. The debate in the Atlantic South will rage on. But consider these, the 15 best neighborhoods in Jacksonville renters and newcomers should keep their eye on.
Arlington
- Walk Score: 52/100
Across the St. John’s River and away from the riverside is Arlington. The extended region of Arlington is one of the largest sections of Duval County. It’s also one of its oldest settlements. The core neighborhood of Arlington proper offers a suburban vibe melded with splashes of urban development. It’s a mix of old-fashioned Southern charm and modern Florida-style living.
Arlington is one of the first areas of the nation ever visited by Europeans. Site of French Fort Caroline, the neighborhood dates back to the 1560s. The region was farmland until after the Civil War when residential development started in earnest. But it wasn’t until 1953 when construction and population boomed. That was thanks to the opening of the Matthews Bridge to downtown.
Today, Arlington remains one of the fastest-growing parts of Jacksonville. The area isn’t just a short commute to downtown. To the east, it’s an easy ride to the Beaches. The greater Arlington district is home to desirable subdivisions like Fort Caroline and Regency. It features plenty of outdoor delights at Fort Caroline National Park, Tree Hill Nature Center and Jacksonville Arboretum Gardens. It’s also the edge neighborhood for Jacksonville University.
Avondale
- Median 1-BR rent: $750
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,050
- Walk Score: 78/100
Tucked between the river and the Roosevelt Expressway are the twin neighborhoods of Avondale and Riverside. Many consider the two a continuous neighborhood (see below). But Avondale has charm enough to stand on its own.
Riverside started to grow in the late 1800s. But Avondale didn’t become highly developed until a century ago. That made it more isolated from late-century urban decline, allowing it to retain its original elegance. Avondale is primarily residential but incorporates pocket business districts. And the Florida-Times Union named the duo one of the top 10 best neighborhoods in the nation just a few years ago.
Homes and apartment buildings in Avondale are decidedly upscale, primarily closer to the river. Million-dollar waterfront properties are common. But the neighborhood at large is also a mix of many architectural styles. Colonial Revival, Tudor, Art Deco, Mediterranean, Craftsman and Prairie Bungalow structures can all be found along Avondale’s quiet, tree-canopy streets.
Many Avondale residents report very high incomes. But it’s not an old-money district. Avondale is known for its well-off, young professional populace. The hipster crowd can enjoy the neighborhood’s craft breweries, farmer’s markets, trendy restaurants and abundant free live music.
Baymeadows
Source: Rent./The Avenues
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,492
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,492
- Walk Score: 21/100
Located south of more built-up areas of Jacksonville East, Baymeadows is one of the best neighborhoods in Jacksonville. The Southside district has a distinctly suburban feel. It’s family-centric and sits about a dozen miles from downtown.
Quiet Baymeadows is a laid-back community with all the expected suburban amenities. National chain restaurants and big-box stores fill the byways. It features an affordable cost of living, respected schools and a low crime rate. It’s also a “renter-friendly” haven. In Baymeadows, 85 percent of residents rent their homes or apartments. And lease prices are reasonable, sitting at or just above average pricing.
Baymeadows has much to do for families, as well as all comers. There are a number of green spaces, including Dog Wood Park and nearby Fort Family and Touchton Parks. Indoor fun is also close at hand at One Way Out Escape Room or Autobahn Indoor Speedway. And for out-of-town visitors, several hotels sit at the corner of I-95 and J. Turner Butler Boulevard (the JTB). It’s also home to Jacksonville’s lone Dave & Buster’s.
Brentwood
- Median 1-BR rent: $750
- Walk Score: 53/100
Seeking quiet and safe, but still convenient to all the action? Look no further than Brentwood. The Jacksonville West neighborhood lies a couple of miles north of downtown. Despite its location, it’s primarily residential. More than six in 10 residents rent their homes. And only 44 percent have children in the household.
Brentwood is known as a comfortable and relatively safe neighborhood. It’s a historic community featuring dense sections with homes built in the bungalow style. It offers large blocks of single-family homes, as well as a number of apartment complexes.
The northwestern corner of Brentwood is home to a large shopping complex. Gateway Town Center offers several national brand restaurants, apparel stores, a diner, sports bar, Winn-Dixie and a flea market. A large cemetery and adjacent Mary Mann Jennings Park cover much of eastern Brentwood.
Chimney Lakes
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,542
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,756
- Walk Score: 8/100
Down the most southern point of Jacksonville West is the long strip of land known as Chimney Lakes. Six miles long but just a mile wide, Chimney Lakes sits along the Duval/Clay County border. It’s a prime location for renters. It’s one of the best neighborhoods in Jacksonville if you’re looking for a sparse exurb away from it all.
A number of small lakes dot the residential neighborhood, as the name suggests. The 25 or so bodies of water straddle both sides of Argyle Forest Road which bisects the district lengthwise. Despite its isolation, it’s but a 35-minute commute into the downtown core.
First Coast Expressway slices through the western side of Chimney Lakes. It runs past Oakleaf Town Center along Argyle Forest and Old Middleburg Road. The shopping district features a bevy of big box stores and eateries, including Fancy Sushi Asian Fusion and Jimmy Hula’s.
The northeastern corner of the Branan Field Wildlife and Environmental Area lies in western Chimney Lakes. That’s one of several great parks that include Chimney Lakes Gazebo Park and Highland Lakes Park HOA.
Deerwood
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,650
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,772
- Walk Score: 20/100
Smack in the middle of Jacksonville’s Southside is the suburban neighborhood of Deerwood. The upper-middle-class to the upper-class district is a mix of quaint and urban living. One of Jacksonville’s newest districts, Deerwood was a planned community in the late 1960s and established as a gated golf community around Deerwood Country Club. Today, membership in the newly-renovated club is optional for residents. About half have signed up.
Deerwood offers an executive lifestyle atmosphere. Most houses outside the country club core only date back to the turn of the millennium. The large majority of properties are half-acre or more single-family dwellings. But even newer housing has brought more apartments and condos to the region along with zero lot line homes. Crime rates are also notably low.
The community features a number of country club-inspired cafés, restaurants and pastimes. The Hands-On Children’s Museum and Brumos Collection are both nearby. Favorite local eateries include Midtown Table, Fast Eddy’s Quick Mideast and Deerwood Bistro. Well-known family spot Fort Family Park offers athletic fields, picnic spots and a large fishing pond.
Downtown
- Walk Score: 85/100
If a busy lifestyle is for you, where else would you want to live than Downtown Jacksonville? The general downtown boundaries incorporate regions on both sides of St. John’s. Greater downtown includes subdistricts like LaVilla, Springfield, East Jacksonville and Brooklyn. But it’s the downtown core, known as Northbank, which provides the biggest big city feel.
Downtown is a favored region for both seasoned and young professionals. It’s a busy, vibrant district offering over 50 restaurants and bars. Along the riverfront is the former site of the Jacksonville Landing marketplace. The site, razed in 2019, is being revitalized as Riverfront Plaza, a new downtown park. Rising above the riverfront are Jacksonville’s most prominent skyscrapers and office towers. The city’s three tallest buildings stand in Northbank.
Residential downtown offers a mix of high-rise apartments, condos and townhomes. But as in most downtowns, the rents are higher than average. Outside of the home, there are a myriad of entertainment options in Northbank. Choices include Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, Florida Theatre and Museum of Contemporary Art. For outdoor enjoyment, check out James Weldon Johnson Park and the Riverwalk promenade.
Highlands
- Median 1-BR rent: $785
- Median 2-BR rent: $980
- Walk Score: 37/100
North of downtown and across the Trout River is the residential neighborhood of Highlands. As the name suggests, Highlands sweeps down across the river towards the city. Prominent and desirable, it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Jacksonville North.
The riverfront in Highlands is beautifully non-commercial. Most of the shoreline is residential or undeveloped, giving Highlands a resort escape feel. The neighborhood offers blocks of single-family homes and a selection of apartment complexes. Commercial activity is on the east end of Dunn Avenue. A number of service businesses, restaurants and a Publix line both sides west of I-95.
Over half of residents of Highlands rent their homes or apartment. For renters and owners alike, it’s one of the most affordable neighborhoods in Jacksonville. It’s also a relatively safe community.
Mandarin
- Walk Score: 41/100
South of downtown, a small abutment into the St. John’s River at Julington Creek houses the neighborhood of Mandarin. It existed as its own separate city until 1968 when it was incorporated into Jacksonville.
Named for the variety of orange, Mandarin indeed originated as an orange farming community. For decades, it was a peaceful getaway from Jacksonville’s bustle. Author Harriet Beecher Stowe summered in Mandarin, describing it as “a tropical paradise.”
That changed in 1970 with the opening of the Henry Holland Buckman Bridge across the St. John’s River. This opened up Mandarin to development. It soon became one of Jacksonville’s fastest-growing neighborhoods.
Today the region is full of beautiful homes. Streets are famously lined with Spanish moss-covered oak trees. The family-friendly district is a competitive rental area, for good reason. Only 5 percent of households are available to renters.
Mandarin is known for its large residential spaces, views of the river and varied restaurant selection. Nearly all residents commute to work by car for an average 30-minute commute. And while the neighborhood is family-friendly, just 22 percent have children.
Murray Hill
- Median 1-BR rent: $750
- Median 2-BR rent: $925
- Walk Score: 56/100
Jacksonville’s king of suburbia is the Jacksonville West neighborhood of Murray Hill. As its name implies, it’s situated on a hill overlooking the St. John’s River. Murray Hill has everything for young professional families to retirees.
The district is minutes from downtown and just across the river from San Marco. Murray Hill is awash in parks, local shops and eateries and residential streets. It’s an affordable neighborhood and two-thirds of households don’t have children living at home.
Murray Hill has a number of playgrounds and green spaces. Several include Four Corners, Jasmine Park, Powers and Cameron parks. The neighborhood also features a bevy of community gardens and an arts center.
Most homes in Murray Hill are smaller, with many for rent. The architecture varies, with structures in bungalow, cottage, modern and Southern styles.
Commercially, Murray Hill’s main strip is along Edgewood Avenue South. The shopping district has been popular for nearly a century. Highlighted are a plethora of restaurant favorites. Locals enjoy eateries like B the Bakery, Dreamete, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Community Loaves and Wood Fired Up Pizza. It’s also the spot for all-ages Murray Hill Theater and Mockshop Music Exchange.
Ortega
- Walk Score: 37/100
Now a peninsula jutting out between the St. John’s and Ortega Rivers, Ortega was an isolated island. Then, a land bridge was constructed at its southern end towards Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Expansion subsequently boomed.
At extreme south Jacksonville West, the region sits upon the west side of the former island, east of Roosevelt Boulevard. Informally known as “Old Ortega,” it sits opposite the byway from the twin neighborhood of Ortega Forest.
Early last century, financier J.P. Morgan funded Ortega’s development. Today, it’s one of the South’s most elite “debutante coteries,” and one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the nation. The peninsular district has hundreds of well-sized to large early-1900s ornate homes and Southern mansions. It’s considered among the most beautiful residential areas in the region. Old Ortega’s stately manors, lush parks and giant oak trees line the blocks along the St. John’s waterfront. It also offers highly-rated schools.
As was the plan from the start, Ortega is nearly all residential. The lone exception is a district of Old Ortega on the north side around Cortez Park. That enclave is home to a smattering of boutique eateries and shops. Among the most notable are Village Ladybug, Carter’s Pharmacy, Village Hedgehog and Simply Sara’s.
Riverside
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,182
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,622
- Walk Score: 74/100
The district of Riverside is similar to its twin neighborhood of Avondale (see above). It’s just a bit closer to downtown. Riverside sits, of course, on the river, north of Avondale and south of downtown’s Brooklyn borough. Riverside’s eastern portion is the popular Five Points subdivision.
It’s not just one of the best neighborhoods in Jacksonville. The two neighborhoods combined ranked one of the top 10 neighborhoods in the country. It’s also one of Jacksonville’s most LGBTQ-friendly. It’s home to the JASMYN community center and the route of the city’s annual Pride parade.
Riverside’s streets are wide and lined with tree canopies and a variety of architecture types. It’s one of the most style-diverse neighborhoods in Florida. Riverside showcases large Mediterranean revival villas, mid-century Craftsmen and northern-style brownstones. Notably, Riverside features the largest collection of original bungalow homes in the state. As well, the waterfront has with many million-dollar mansions and high-end apartment buildings.
The Jacksonville West neighborhood is known for its metropolitan bohemian atmosphere. Riverside has vintage shops, indie eateries, craft breweries, boutiques and ice cream parlors, particularly along King Street. It also offers abundant nightlife, outdoor recreation, a number of fitness studios and a popular art scene.
San Marco
- Median 1-BR rent: $895
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,595
- Walk Score: 84/100
The neighborhood of San Marco is one of the best neighborhoods in Jacksonville east of the river. It covers much of the Southbank peninsula below I-95. Despite its proximity across the river to downtown, San Marco is notable for its quaint, smaller-town vibe. It offers a family-friendly getaway just over the bridges from all the action. The Jacksonville Skyway also provides an easy ride into the central business district.
San Marco was a separate city of South Jacksonville. Today, many of the city’s old government buildings survive as department stores and loft apartments. A myriad of homes dots the neighborhood, from Mediterranean revival homes to multi-million dollar mansions. It’s a mix of both historic and new construction.
The historic neighborhood is popular with young professionals and also renters. Nearly 60 percent of the neighborhood rents. Despite a myriad of pricey homes, affordable apartments are also readily available.
The commercial heart of the district is San Marco Square. The shopping hub features trendy shops, casual dining, art galleries and popular pubs. It’s also home to Theater Jacksonville, one of the oldest community theaters in the country. The entire neighborhood is known for its dining choices. Favored destinations include Jack Rabbits Live, Taverna, Grape and Grain Exchange, Bistro Aix and Aardwolf Brewing Company.
Sandalwood
- Median 1-BR rent: $2,028
- Median 2-BR rent: $2,044
- Walk Score: 26/100
On the south end of the greater Arlington district, Sandalwood is a suburban-style residential neighborhood. Development only began in earnest in 1960. Builders wanted the planned community convenient to both downtown and the Beaches. Early advertisements touted it as “halfway between business and pleasure.”
The residential neighborhood lies between the I-295 East beltway and Golden Glades/The Woods. It features blocks of single-family homes, as well as spacey apartment complexes. Sandalwood is a perfect locale for families and commuters. Nearly all residents commute to work. And residents rate it as extremely safe with excellent schools.
The tranquil streets have front yards and picket fences. But there’s also a busy commercial district, as well. At the junction of Atlantic and Kernan boulevards is the Atlantic North shopping center, featuring several big box stores and a number of local restaurants. Popular spots include Cinco De Mayo, Sid & Linda’s Seafood Market, Another Broken Egg Café and Bruster’s Real Ice Cream.
Springfield
Source: Rent./1303 N Main St.
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,400
- Median 2-BR rent: $800
- Walk Score: 64/100
Directly north of downtown is the thriving neighborhood of Springfield. If downtown is for business folk, Springfield is for hipsters. It offers fashionable restaurants, cozy cafés and vintage shops. It also sports three craft breweries in a two-block stretch: Strings Sports Brewery, Hyperion Brewing Company and Main & Six Brewing.
The residential sections of Springfield are known for preserved historic wood-frame homes. In fact, nearly 1,800 buildings in Springfield alone are over a half-century old. But over the last decade, a new construction boom has taken off.
Springfield is a diverse neighborhood with progressive values, popular with singles, recent grads, young couples and even retirees. Gatherings happen at bistros and watering holes like 1748 Bakehouse, Uptown Kitchen & Bar and 1FoxyLadyCafé.
Find the best Jacksonville neighborhood for you
It’s a big city, from the extremes of the Beaches to swampy Jacksonville South. In fact, it’s the biggest city. And there are plenty of the best neighborhoods in Jacksonville just right for you. But which of the 15 above and the dozens more worth knowing is calling your name? Before you move or consider your own ‘hood, check out all the apartments for rent in Jacksonville right now.
