RANK #608 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 41 FL · POP 1,023,153
1YR FORECAST: -2.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
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.
Duval County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -2.5% runs above the profile's typical -3.7%.
See all 76 Sun Belt Post-Surge Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.3x — home prices are high 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 1001 counties.
At 39/100, Duval County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $71,277 combined with job growth of -0.5% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Duval County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $303,500 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,475/month on average.
Duval County's population is growing — up +1.6% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.5%). Home values shifted -2.5% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.72% 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.