RANK #809 / 1001 NAT · #27 / 41 FL · POP 306,934
1YR FORECAST: -1.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +23%
St. Johns County, Florida, is perhaps best known for St. Augustine, the nation's oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement, with its historic district, cobblestone streets, and landmarks like the Castillo de San Marcos. Located on Florida's northeast Atlantic coast, just south of Jacksonville, the county offers a blend of historic charm and coastal living. Commuting to Jacksonville is feasible, with express bus services available. The community offers a relaxed, outdoor-focused lifestyle with access to 42 miles of beaches, the St. Johns River, and numerous parks and preserves like Anastasia State Park and the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, providing opportunities for kayaking, hiking, and birdwatching.
Life in St. Johns County often appeals to families and retirees, drawn by the highly-rated public school system and a variety of communities, including master-planned developments like Nocatee and coastal towns such as Ponte Vedra Beach. The economy is experiencing growth, with significant investment in residential and commercial development, as well as infrastructure. This expansion is supported by a growing workforce and a focus on sectors such as advanced manufacturing, health sciences, and business services. While the county has seen rapid population growth, efforts are underway to manage this expansion while preserving its natural environment.
St. Johns County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -3.1% 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 23.9x — 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
SilverLeaf Master-Planned Community
Various Developers
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
St. Johns County Infrastructure Program
St. Johns County
|
$820M | Under Construction |
|
"Agrihood" Community Development
Robinson Improvement Co. (Freehold Communities)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Amazon Last-Mile Distribution Center
Amazon
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Broward's Corner Mixed-Use Redevelopment
Local Owners behind Broward's Liquor
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
County Road 16 Widening and Improvements
St. Johns County
|
$25M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — St. Johns County scores just 18/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #809 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +2.1% and median household income of $109,839 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
St. Johns County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $489,200 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,922/month on average.
St. Johns County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +5.0% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.1% clip. Home values shifted -3.1% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.92% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests St. Johns County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.