Jacksonville East
RANK #802 / 996 NAT · #23 / 41 FL · POP 995,708
1YR FORECAST: -1.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
Duval County, Florida, is often recognized for Jacksonville, its largest city, which holds the distinction of being the largest city by land area in the continental United States. Located in Northeast Florida, the county stretches along the Atlantic Ocean and is bisected by the St. Johns River. Commuting within the county is primarily by car, though the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) offers bus, shuttle, trolley, and paratransit services, including a Skyway monorail in downtown Jacksonville. The community offers a blend of urban, suburban, and coastal living. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with miles of sandy beaches at Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Atlantic Beach, and opportunities for boating, fishing, kayaking, and hiking in preserves like the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park.
Life in Duval County appeals to families and young professionals, with public schools generally performing above average. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation and logistics. Major investments are flowing into commercial and residential developments, as well as energy infrastructure. The region's infrastructure, including interstates, railroads, and JAXPORT, a deep-water port, supports its role as a logistics and trade hub.
Above national median
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.0x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
JEA Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant
JEA
|
$1,570M | Planned |
|
Downtown Northbank Hotel, Conference Center and Office Plaza
Corner Lot and Aspect Holdings LLC
|
$160M | Proposed |
|
Duval County Public Schools Headquarters Redevelopment (Luxury Condos, Retail, Restaurants)
Chase Properties
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Duval County scores just 19/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #802 of 996 counties. Job growth at +1.2% and median household income of $65,579 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Duval County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $251,300 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $1,293/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Duval County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.3% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.2% clip. Home values shifted -3.5% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.68% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Duval County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.