While many areas of Florida are on the verge of a housing market crash, Jacksonville is not only surviving — it’s actually thriving. 

Sales remain steady, home prices are holding, and inventory is moving faster than in other metros across the state. 

Specialists link the city’s durability to its mix of comparatively affordable housing, robust local job growth, and a surge of out-of-state buyers seeking larger living spaces while remaining in Florida.

Throughout the pandemic, buyers from New York, New Jersey, California, and Chicago found their way here, attracted by the low crime rates, lower taxes, and neighborhoods with unique personalities.

Prices surged, though not as sharply as in other Florida hotspots — and homes continue to sell briskly. 

‘Years ago, Jacksonville was way behind the national average in terms of housing prices,’ said local realtor Tonya O’Quinn. 

‘The scenario shifted during Covid when there was an influx of out-of-state residents. Yet, the demand for homes persists, and Jacksonville remains much more affordable than other parts of the state while offering additional appeals.’

Over recent years, Jacksonville has transformed into a destination for homebuyers searching for a hidden gem. Its combination of affordability, sunshine, and diverse neighborhoods — from riverfront historic districts to modern suburbs — has helped the city remain resilient even as other Florida markets struggle. 

During the pandemic people were eager to buy property in Florida as Americans flocked to the state for sunshine and space, especially in Jacksonville 

Jacksonville’s appeal comes from its combination of affordability, sunshine, and diverse neighborhoods that all offer a different vibe for families and singles

Jacksonville, Florida realtor Tonya O’Quinn says the area has remained a hotspot despite Florida’s dismal housing market

Jacksonville, located along the St. Johns River in Northeast Florida, is also famously the birthplace of southern rock. 

Legendary bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, and Molly Hatchet got their start in the city, giving it a rich musical pedigree that locals celebrate through museums, festivals, and live venues. That cultural cache adds to the city’s unique appeal. 

With a population of around 977,267, Jacksonville offers homes that were once out of reach for buyers in Miami or West Palm Beach at a more reasonable price point, keeping the metro hot in an otherwise cooling Florida housing market.  

The median home price in the metro is $284,825, reports Zillow.Household incomes average around $72,564, and unemployment is under five percent. In fact, the job market in Jacksonville is booming, with Ameris Bancorp and Black Knight Financial Services headquartered there. 

The owner of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, Shad Khan, is the most well-known billionaire living in Jacksonville. He loves the area so much his Iguana Investments purchased a luxury hotel and is developing it in the city.

The housing market varies, with some neighborhoods more affordable than others,  said O’Quinn, and the luxury market, where homes sell for $1 million and up, has remained especially strong since Covid.

Businesses followed, with Louis Vuitton, Chanel beauty, Gucci, and Tiffany & Co., Alo and Apple now located at St. Johns Town Center, an open air upscale shopping development popular with locals.

One sign of the area’s continuously strong housing market was the 2021 arrival of luxury design firm Restoration Hardware, which opened up a a 70,000-square-foot furniture gallery and the popular RH Rooftop Restaurant, where six pieces of lemon grilled shrimp will cost you $26.

Molly Hatchet, the southern rock and hard rock band that formed in the 1970s, is from Jacksonville

Locals have rooftop bars where they can have drinks and see the downtown skyline view of Jacksonville

The housing market varies in Jacksonville and the luxury market, where homes sell for $1 million and up, has remained hot since Covid

Jacksonville has neighborhoods like Avondale, which is walkable and has boutique shopping, coffee shops and many restaurants that residents go to

Restoration Hardware moved into Jacksonville after the housing market remained a hotspot, the rooftop bar and restaurant is a popular spot for locals

Jacksonville Landing, a waterside spot filled with restaurants, shops, offices and a walkway 

Jacksonville is also home to Riverside Avondale, an upscale neighborhood with trendy boutiques, bars, and antique shopping. The nearby River & Post is known by locals to have the rooftop with the best downtown skyline view of Jacksonville.

The Riverside Arts Market is a weekly market held rain or shine under the Fuller Warren Bridge every Saturday and features local art, fresh produce, live music and food trucks lined up along the river. 

There is a world-class art collection at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and the area is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. It’s often voted as one of the country’s top 10 neighborhoods.

O’Quinn said several of Jacksonville’s hottest neighborhoods are also extremely desirable for their affordability and schools.

In 2019, Deutsche Bank moved more than 2,000 jobs from New York City  to Jacksonville, luring staff with the promise of a dramatically lower cost of living, affordable beachfront homes and the most exclusive private schools for their kids.

Avondale is the artsy, walkable neighborhood that’s got historic charm and is great for families.The average home value about $432,493. It’s known locally to be the perfect city for first‑time buyers.

Mandarin, a riverfront neighborhood filled with restaurants and boutiques, is more suburban with newer home developments. The average home there costs $507,156, and rose 2.3 percent from August 2024 to August 2025.

San Marco is more affordable. Filled with historic homes and new riverfront builds, it has steadily attracted buyers. The average home price there is $362,100.

Jacksonville’s hottest neighborhoods are extremely desirable for their affordability and schools, the area has remained a popular place to move to

The Avondale neighborhood in Jacksonville is walkable and popular with locals for its walkability and different types of restaurants

San Marco is more affordable and filled with historic homes and new riverfront builds, it has steadily attracted buyers for its beauty

Residences in downtown Jacksonville, which has managed to stay afloat as most of the Sunshine State is in a housing crisis

Ponte Vedra Beach in Jacksonville, which has managed to remain a hot real estate market due to its diverse neighborhoods and access to the water

Neptune Beach is centered on luxury beach living. The average home value there is $725,532 for a coastal home. 

Family‑friendly areas like Nocatee, Julington Creek Plantation, and the Beaches (which includes Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach) are sought after for good schools and a good quality of life near the beach.

Besides out-of-staters discovering the city during Covid, Jacksonville also sees buyers from Florida fleeing more expensive or crowded metro areas like Miami and West Palm Beach.

O’Quinn said the luxury market in Jacksonville is doing especially well, calling it ‘resilient.’

Some neighborhoods are holding value and even growing modestly, including Mandarin and Neptune Beach.

Homes in lower demand areas or higher‑priced homes are staying listed a bit longer, and some sellers who won’t negotiate may see longer waits.

‘But if interest rates drop meaningfully, that could reawaken buyer demand even more,’ O’Quinn said.