Not drinking water, silly. We’re talking about the fact that with 1,100 miles of navigable water Jax (yes people from Jacksonville call it that) has more shoreline than any other city in the nation. That’s 22 miles of beaches, 40 miles of the Intracoastal Waterway and the longest stretch of St Johns River in Florida. Trust us, if you’re interested in living on or near water it’s hard to beat Jax.

It's hard to believe but Jacksonville is the largest city by area in the lower 48 of these United States (damn you Alaska!). What issues come with that much land when it’s packed with people? For starters, it can be a visual mess with all the sprawl, and crime is a problem in spots given the difficulty supporting that much spread, but on the daily the big challenge is getting around. Given the thin to nonexistent public transportation, you're going to have to drive in Jax. 




It's all about the Water

LookyLOO Review of Jacksonville

In terms of Jacksonville’s vibes, residents often claim that the city feels more like a true southern city than the rest of its Floridian neighbors. Residents are generally associated with having ‘courtly’ personalities and a strong appreciation for patriotism. A lot of residents take pride in fitting seamlessly into the ‘small southern town’ persona and Jacksonville is often quoted as being a strongly religious area.

Thanks to the combination of weather and geographical location, a lot of social life in Jacksonville happens without a roof. Jacksonville has more shoreline than *checks notes* any city in the United States, with Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Atlantic Beach being three of the most popular. In addition to the shoreline, Jacksonville also boasts the largest urban park system in the nation, with over 80,000 acres worth of green space to help residents take advantage of a climate with winter temps often in the 60s. Jacksonville is also one of the nation’s best kept secrets for foodies, with a restaurant culture that rivals its neighbor Miami.

 If you're interested in knowing what goes on in Jacksonville check out the [**calendar of events**](https://www.visitjacksonville.com/events/). 

Lifestyle

While the average salary in Jacksonville is slightly below the national average, the low cost of living and low taxes are two factors that residents point to as working to offset that. The hospitality industry in particular is on the rise in Jacksonville as out-of-towners travel to the Sunshine State to take advantage of, well, the sunshine. Financial staples Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan Bank are two big employers for those who are financially minded, and if you drive south from downtown you’ll find the massive Naval Air Station military base that many Jacksonville residents call their workplace. Railway giant CSX Transportation is also headquartered downtown for those with experience in the transportation trade.


Worklife 

Jacksonville is in the [**Duval Country Public School District**](dcps.duvalschools.org). It rates a [**"B" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/duval-county-public-schools-fl/) with higher ratings for Diversity and College Prep. The school system has all the advanced bells and whistles including AP, IB, and Gifted Programs. 

Like any massive city school district, you'll find excellent and lower performers amidst the different neighborhoods. The highest-ranked schools tend to be along the coast and in the southern neighborhoods but there are also excellent options sprinkled throughout the city. A couple of the top performers include:

- [**Stanton College Prep**](https://dcps.duvalschools.org/stanton), a high school in the city center, receives an [**"A+" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/stanton-college-preparatory-jacksonville-fl/?map). 
- [**River City Science Academy**](rcsamhs.org), is a middle and high school charter option that gets an [**"A" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/river-city-science-academy-middle-high-school-jacksonville-fl/?map).
- [**Paxon School for Advanced Studies**](dcps.duvalschools.org/psas), the premier public magnet school in Jacksonville, gets an [**"A+" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/paxon-school-for-advanced-studies-jacksonville-fl/?map). 

Schools

They used to say Go West Young Man! (we don’t agree with the inherent misogyny in that expression but it’s a saying) and now the mantra seems to be to head south instead. Low or no taxes, sunny weather, booming economies are driving people to the sunshine states. What that means is the economies benefit from the spending, the services grow to support the new residents, and the energy of the cities gets upbeat. 

Go South Young Man!

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**pmia241**
Living in Jacksonville
1y ago
✭✭✭

I love all the breweries! Most of them are fairly generic, but good selections. As a runner, there's a TON of races and group runs. No hills, but a fair amount of bridges.

I'm not a beach person sadly, but there are a good amount of parks with walking trails.

As for living, I'm just outside San Marco and love it. Less quirky than Riverside, but still centrally located, kept up well, and decent amount of restaurant options.

As a whole, the city isn't great but also not terrible, and mostly going in the right direction. I'm excited to see what the new downtown riverfront developments will look like.

If you're interested in reviews from other locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/jacksonville/reviews).

Size

Reviews of Jacksonville from Locals

**The Best Thing About Jacksonville?** Water 

Not drinking water, silly. We’re talking about the fact that with 1,100 miles of navigable water Jax (yes people from Jacksonville call it that), has more shoreline than any other city in the nation. That’s 22 miles of beaches, 40 miles of the Intracoastal Waterway and the longest stretch of St Johns River in Florida. Trust us, if you’re interested in living on or near water it’s hard to beat Jax. 

**The Worst Thing About Jacksonville?** Size

Hard to believe but Jacksonville is the largest city by area in the lower 48 of these United States (damn you Alaska!). What issues come with that much land when it’s also packed with people? For starters it can be a visual mess with all the sprawl, and crime is a problem given the difficulty supporting that much spread, but on the daily the challenge is getting around. You’re going to have to drive here given the thin to nonexistent public transportation that makes most cities with this much size face a similar issue. 

**How You Living?** On The Water

There are 500 neighborhoods in Jacksonville so it goes without saying there are many different ways to live here. Many of them are built around the River (it ain’t called The River City for nothin) or the beaches. Some of the most coveted neighborhoods are south of Downtown, like Riverside or Avondale, which are primarily residential but also integrated into cool, artsy business districts, which make them ideal for the youngsters. Mandarin is the southernmost neighborhood and considered by many the premier neighborhood in the city due to its beautiful homes, natural beauty and riverside activities for singles and families. It will surprise many who look at Jacksonville that while the ocean beach areas are wonderful, many of the most popular neighborhoods are on the St Johns River, and you’re just or more likely living along that body of water as the Atlantic. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** Go South Young Man!

They used to say Go West Young Man! (we don’t agree with the inherent misogyny in that expression but it’s a saying) and now the mantra seems to be to head south instead. Low or no taxes, sunny weather, booming economies are driving people to the sunshine states. What that means is the economies benefit from the spending, the services grow to support the new residents, and the energy of the cities gets upbeat. 


Downtown is the center of the action for Young Professionals in Jacksonville. In addition to being the center of the business district, it's also the center of the city for dining, bars, performing arts, museums, sports arenas, and direct access to the river for recreation. It also has the highest concentration of apartments and bars in the city. 
- Downtown
- Five Points

Young Professionals

Downtown

If you favor a groovier and quieter vibe than downtown then look at Five Points. The coolest area in the city, filled with vintage shops, and plenty of entertainment options. While there are high rises in the area the housing choices trend towards bungalows and craft-style homes. 
- Five Points Village
- The Beaches


DINKs/SINKs

Five Points Village

Jacksonville doesn’t have a central LGBTQ+ neighborhood as some big cities do but Riverside is a good place to start your search. Home to the LGBTQ+ community center it is also where the annual pride parade is held. San Marco is another option if Art Deco architecture and upscale shopping and dining is your thing. 
- Riverside
- San Marco
- Old Ortega
- Five Points


LGBTQ+ 

Riverside

Northside is a hugely popular area for families with neighborhoods like Yellow Bluff Landing & Oceanway getting a lot of the attention. Close to downtown and the beaches it also has nature preserves, state parks for getting the kids outside to play. Tons of bike-friendly streets, great homes, and family-friendly dining options. 
- Northside
- The Beaches
- Nocatee


Families

Northside

Jacksonville is hugely popular with retirees with an incredible variety of open neighborhoods, gated 55+ communities, and structured retirement facilities throughout the area. Riverside is a popular neighborhood for retirees who want an active social and cultural experience all within walking distance. Tons of waterfront condo and townhome options make it an easy to manage choice if you’re not interested in the more structured 55+ communities. 
- Riverside
- Sweetwater / Del Webb Community
- Bear Creek Community


Retirees

Sweetwater

Jacksonville

**What is it like to live in Jacksonville, Florida, USA?**

**pmia241**
Living in Jacksonville
1y ago
✭✭✭

I love all the breweries! Most of them are fairly generic, but good selections. As a runner, there's a TON of races and group runs. No hills, but a fair amount of bridges.

I'm not a beach person sadly, but there are a good amount of parks with walking trails.

As for living, I'm just outside San Marco and love it. Less quirky than Riverside, but still centrally located, kept up well, and decent amount of restaurant options.

As a whole, the city isn't great but also not terrible, and mostly going in the right direction. I'm excited to see what the new downtown riverfront developments will look like.



**terurin**
Living in Jacksonville
9mo ago
✭✭✭


Everyone saying you can’t live comfortably mostly walking is wrong. I have lived in the Riverside and Avondale area for years. I used ti live close to 5 points which was great. Close to food trucks, restaurants, parks, and grocery as well as UPS if I needed to ship anything without running to the post office. I live further out from there now in Avondale and I am still fine without using my car. We have Uber and grocery delivery like everywhere else if you’re in a pinch. I can walk to various parks and restaurants. I work from home so I drive maybe once a week and I don’t really HAVE to, but stuff is in other neighborhoods so whatever. Having a car is just a bonus over here, which sounds like you do have one. Traffic is not as bad as other cities (other people may disagree but they have not lived in other cities I guarantee).

**What do you like/dislike about living in Jacksonville?**
**bourscheid**
Living in Jacksonville
Updated 3y ago
✭✭✭✭

There is a ton of beauty all over Jacksonville if you take the time to truly explore. From the largest parks system in the country to sprawling examples of "urban decay", there's so much to just see. Here is my Instagram for some examples: https://www.instagram.com/jacksonvillephoto/.

I come from a small-to-mid sized city in South Carolina. Before that it was the middle of nowhere mountains of North Carolina. Growing up, options when you went out was to go to a lake, go hiking somewhere, or don't go out at all. The only shopping was Wal Mart, and it was 20 minutes away at highway speeds. The closest mall was a two hour drive. Here, there is always something to do.

It's also one of the few places where you can get the river and beach Florida landscapes at once. There are incredible state parks, beaches are clean and beautiful, the waves are perfect for boogie or surfboarding, and the airport is one of the cleanest and nicest I have ever been to.

Being right on 95 makes it easy to hop on and drive wherever you want. 295 is a convenient circle around the whole city as well. The restaurant scene is stellar, and there are bars-a-plenty.

Additionally, I've noticed that the people here are so NICE. So much more so than other cities. People make eye contact, people hold doors open for you, people greet one another, even if they are complete strangers, in most cases. In general, everybody just seems happier than in places like Atlanta, San Francisco, etc. Even in my wanderings downtown, the homeless are always kind when they speak.

**What do you like/dislike about living in Jacksonville?**
**Tizzanewday**
Updated 4mo ago
✭✭✭

I enjoy it most days. Still somewhat affordable compared to the other metros in Florida. Has some big city amenities with fewer of the big city problems (they’re still there, just not as pronounced imo) I’ve lived in some more notable places such as Atlanta, San Francisco, South Florida and the front range of Colorado. I’ve been here the longest if that says anything. Depending on where you’re coming from, summer may be unbearable so you’ll want to visit in July or August to ensure you can handle it. I wish there were more direct flights to places out of our airport but it seems like they’re working on it.

Jacksonville, Florida

BORTLES!!!

Looklyloo Score: 79