Where Is Jacksonville, FL? Location, Highways & 2026 Home Prices by Type

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Jacksonville sits in northeastern Florida along the St. Johns River.

 

Key takeaway

Jacksonville is in Florida's northeast corner, where the St. Johns River meets the Atlantic Ocean just south of the Georgia line. The city limits cover nearly all of Duval County. If you're house hunting there, condos give buyers the most room to negotiate right now. Townhouses are worth a look if you'd rather buy into a segment where prices are still climbing.

 

Who this guide is for

You're placing Jacksonville on the map while deciding whether to search for a home there and which part of its market to start with.

 

Where is Jacksonville, Florida?

Jacksonville sits along the St. Johns River in northeastern Florida, about 12 miles south of the Georgia state line. The downtown urban core is roughly 25 miles from the border. Drive east a short while and you're at the Atlantic Ocean. The city covers nearly all of Duval County because the city and county governments consolidated in 1968.

The river and the coast put flood zones through much of the city. Look up any address on the FEMA flood map and ask the seller for the required flood disclosure before making an offer.

 

What is near Jacksonville?

Nassau County lies to the north and St. Johns County to the south. Clay County and Baker County border the city to the southwest and west.

Inside Duval County, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach sit on the coast. These beach towns, along with Baldwin in west Duval County, kept their own governments in that consolidation. They are separate municipalities from the City of Jacksonville.

Local services and property tax rates differ between the city and the beach towns. Use the Duval County Property Appraiser to confirm which one governs any address you're considering.

 

Getting around Jacksonville

Interstate 95 runs north and south through the center of the city. Interstate 10 stretches across Florida and ends at I-95 just southwest of downtown. Interstate 295 forms a beltway around the central city, and Jacksonville International Airport sits north of the I-295 loop.

The St. Johns River splits the city, and every crossing depends on a handful of bridges. Downtown crossings include the Main Street Bridge, the Acosta Bridge, the Fuller Warren Bridge and the Hart Bridge. The Buckman Bridge and the Dames Point Bridge carry the beltway across the river.

If your home and your employer sit on opposite sides of the river, your commute depends on those bridges. Drive your work route at weekday rush hour before you make an offer.

 

Jacksonville housing market by property type

The citywide median home price of $304,855 barely moved over the 90 days ending September 30, 2026, rising just 0.3% from a year earlier. That flat median hides a split between property types. Condo prices fell 2.8% to a median of $174,982, and condos sat on the market for a median of 85 days. Townhouse prices rose 6.1% to $259,993.

Condos are where you have the most room to work with right now. At that median, the 95.7% sale-to-list ratio means the typical condo closed about $7,500 below asking. Fees vary by building, so ask the condo association for current dues, the most recent reserve study and any pending special assessments.

Townhouses sit at the other end. With only 3.2 months of supply, they are the tightest segment in the city, and they recently sold at 97.8% of list price. You'll pay close to asking.

Single-family houses give you the widest selection. They made up 2,682 of the 3,370 recent sales and carry a median price of $327,864. About 14.1% of them sold above list price.

 

How to narrow your Jacksonville home search

Your daily routine and your budget should decide where you start looking. If you'll cross the St. Johns River every workday, run the rush-hour bridge test above before committing to a neighborhood. If negotiating room matters more to you than buying into a rising segment, the property-type breakdown points you to condos. You can map out these target areas using Jacksonville zip codes.

Riverside, Avondale, Murray Hill and Ortega sit along the river west and southwest of downtown. Springfield and the Northside are north of downtown. San Marco, San Jose, Mandarin, Baymeadows, Lakewood and the Southside sit south and southeast of the river bend. Arlington and the beaches stretch east toward the ocean.

For school assignments, use the Duval County Public Schools locator directly rather than trusting listing remarks. Pursuit Real Estate can pull recent sales for the property type and side of the river you're weighing to help you get started.

 

At a glance

  • All homes (90 days ending 2026-09-30): median sale price $304,855, up 0.3% year over year. 3,370 homes sold, 60 median days on market, 97.4% sale-to-list, 13% sold above list, 4.1 months of supply, 4,538 listings, $183 per sq ft.
  • Single-family homes (90 days ending 2026-09-30): median sale price $327,864, up 1.4%. 2,682 sold, 59 median days on market, 97.6% sale-to-list, 14.1% sold above list, 4.1 months of supply, 3,556 listings, $190 per sq ft.
  • Townhouses (90 days ending 2026-09-30): median sale price $259,993, up 6.1%. 402 sold, 64 median days on market, 97.8% sale-to-list, 12% sold above list, 3.2 months of supply, 425 listings, $171 per sq ft.
  • Condos (90 days ending 2026-09-30): median sale price $174,982, down 2.8%. 285 sold, 85 median days on market, 95.7% sale-to-list, 3.6% sold above list, 5.7 months of supply, 531 listings, $143 per sq ft.

 

Jacksonville, FL location FAQs

What kind of city is Jacksonville, Florida?

Jacksonville is a river and ocean port city whose job market and history are closely tied to its port and military installations. These include Naval Station Mayport, home to the Navy's 4th Fleet.

Is Jacksonville the largest city in the US by land area?

Yes. Jacksonville is the largest city by land area in the contiguous United States, covering 747.29 square miles as of the 2020 Census. It's also the 10th most populous city in the country and the largest by population in Florida.

How far apart are Orlando and Jacksonville?

About 140 miles. The drive typically takes just over two hours, heading south on Interstate 95 and then west on Interstate 4.

Are Jacksonville and Miami close?

No. They sit at opposite ends of Florida's Atlantic coast, roughly 345 to 350 miles apart via Interstate 95. The drive takes about five to six hours under normal conditions.

Where does Jacksonville, FL rank in crime rate?

The FBI cautions against ranking cities by safety based on raw data. Instead, check the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the FBI Crime Data Explorer for reported incidents per 100,000 residents in the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office jurisdiction.

Why are people moving out of Jacksonville?

Census data doesn't show a mass exit. Duval County's population reached 1,062,963 as of July 1, 2025, up about 8,232 from the prior year. Net domestic migration was roughly flat at about 101 people, and growth came mostly from international migration and natural increase.

Is Jacksonville, Florida in the Eastern time zone?

Yes. If you drive west on Interstate 10, note that part of the Florida Panhandle runs on Central time.

How much is the sales tax in Jacksonville, Florida?

Florida charges a 6% state sales tax, and Duval County adds a discretionary sales surtax. The Florida Department of Revenue lists the current combined rate.

 

Sources

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