[WendyMoiraAngelaDarling]

Hi all! My family and I are researching a move to St. Johns County or Flagler County. Would you please compare and contrast the counties for us regarding general culture and school quality - natural beauty? We are eventually going to be looking to buy a house with an acre or two - are there neighborhoods where the houses aren’t right up next to each other in these counties? Thanks very much for your help!

[FSUMike]

Both counties have rural areas where you can find homes with land. Where will you be working? Flagler county is more oriented towards Daytona, whereas St John's is more oriented towards Jacksonville. If you want your space and natural beauty, STAY AWAY FROM PALM COAST.

Culture - Palm Coast is New Jersey, the rest of Flagler county (Bunnell, Flagler Beach) is much more old Florida. St John's probably has more native Floridians on average so is more old Florida in general.
St Augustine is a great town with lots to do and very close to Jax, Palm Coast has almost no commercial development and you would have to go to Daytona for almost everything (movies, shopping, restaurants)

School - Just an educated guess, but St John's is probably a better school district. Flagler is just more transient and it grew too fast.

Natural beauty - Both counties have nice beaches, and both have beautiful agricultural settings in the western part of the counties.

[WendyMoiraAngelaDarling]

Thanks a million! Your insights are very much appreciated!

[KeysDreamer]

[quote=FSUMike;4069563]Both counties have rural areas where you can find homes with land. Where will you be working? Flagler county is more oriented towards Daytona, whereas St John's is more oriented towards Jacksonville. If you want your space and natural beauty, STAY AWAY FROM PALM COAST.

Culture - Palm Coast is New Jersey, the rest of Flagler county (Bunnell, Flagler Beach) is much more old Florida. St John's probably has more native Floridians on average so is more old Florida in general.
St Augustine is a great town with lots to do and very close to Jax, Palm Coast has almost no commercial development and you would have to go to Daytona for almost everything (movies, shopping, restaurants)

School - Just an educated guess, but St John's is probably a better school district. Flagler is just more transient and it grew too fast.
Natural beauty - Both counties have nice beaches, and both have beautiful agricultural settings in the western part of the counties.[/QUOTE

FSUMike you don't live in Flagler County do you? Sorry that you think it's full of just folks from New Jersey. We are a very diverse in population and yes back 20+ yrs ago it was all folks from the NE but not anymore. In fact I have a ton of relatives here and they are all from So Fla with native born children who live and work here. Not a single one of us from the NE.

I'm sorry but I'll disagree with you about commercial development and restaurants in this county. There's plenty of commercial stores here now especially with the new Belk's, Beall's, Lowe's, Super Target, PetSmart, Books a Million, Ross AND the new Kohl's being built. Restaurants we have plenty of with more on the way and in development. The movie theatre will not be done till next year though. No we don't have the outlet stores or as many stores as Daytona with your mall. We are not as big an area as St. John's or Daytona but that's what makes our county so nice. Flagler Beach is an awesome little town.

Agree about where you are planning on being employed being important. Be sure to have a job lined up first as times are tough.

In regards to schools, I put two of my kids through Flagler Co schools and I believe the school system is still good. It all depends on what a person's wants and needs are and you should definitely at least check out our area.

[TeeJayMaJay]

I agree with you KeysDreamer....I have lived here in PALM COAST for nearly 15 yrs now and I like the "rural" feeling and yet we are getting shopping and restr. in. I like the look of the commercial areas here - nothing old looking and all new and uplifting.

Yes, the jobs are tough and that is every where in FL...I believe. The economy is not good at all and we Floridians are truly feeling it...along with the rest of the USA I am sure.

I still think the schools here are good. They are laying off, but as I read many other places in FL are laying off teachers as well.

I like going to St Aug to shop as a "change" but ALWAYS GLAD to get back home to Palm Coast. Traffic is crazier up there in St Aug all times of the day.

Palm Coast is still growing and adding commercial facilities (restr/shopping/etc) so that tells me there is SOMETHING HERE then for those companies to want to expand in this economy!

But must admit I like the beaches better in St Aug - more sand but that means MORE PEOPLE too. So bad with the good......come and stay in both for a couple of days and "embrace" both areas to see which feels "like home" to you.

Check out Arlington residential area in Palm Coast for larger lots. If I had to do it over again, I would have moved there. Great location for families.

[FSUMike]

This newspaper article says it all...
P.S. I've actually had an encounter with this guy before. I was in my work truck, turning right and I had the green light, and here he comes. I can tell he ain't stoppin so I'm just inching around the turn and he freaks out, starts cussin me out, gets in the middle of the road to block me and says "MAKE ME MOVE!!". So I did. I just kept driving slowly and he got out of my way.

Flagler County News - newsjournalonline.com (broken link)