St. John's County vs. Clay County (Jacksonville, Orange Park: insurance, house, buy)

[spinergirl]

Can anyone tell me the major differences between St. John's County and Clay County? We are relocating to the Jax/St. Aug/St. John's area in the next year with 2 small children, and planning to put them in public schools (hence why St. John's appeals to us). Seems like you can get more for your $ in Clay? We recently spent time down there but the area is so big I am overwhelmed and confused. (and my realtor is out of the country)

Thank you in advance!!!

[SaintCabbage]

Originally Posted by spinergirl

Can anyone tell me the major differences between St. John's County and Clay County? We are relocating to the Jax/St. Aug/St. John's area in the next year with 2 small children, and planning to put them in public schools (hence why St. John's appeals to us). Seems like you can get more for your $ in Clay? We recently spent time down there but the area is so big I am overwhelmed and confused. (and my realtor is out of the country)

Thank you in advance!!!

St. John's County is much better for a lot of reasons, but when comparing specifically to Clay county, I would say location would be the #1 reason. The traffic to get in and out of that county is horrific. The traffic in the county itself isn't much better. It's also much farther away from most everything, like the beach, popular shopping, etc. Some may not agree, but the "clientele" of residents there are going to be a rung below what you typically find in St. John's county as well. Just my opinion. I would never live in Clay county.

[spinergirl]

Okay - that is helpful. These are the things I don't know - and need to ask the experts in the area!

[sidewinder103]

In spite of what others feel to berate Clay County it is hardly a rung below. Many fine military and good people live here and there is a reason why so many people live here.

We know people who have sold their homes in Ponte Vedra to move to Clay County because of corrosion issues, insurance/tax rates and because of the value they can obtain on a home, especially in the Gated/Golf Communities.

They are working on traffic solutions all over the Jax area and there is no traffic in this area that even compares to traffic in such areas as Atlanta on any scale. Traffic is hardly horrific as I drive from Clay to downtown Jax every day for over 20 years and the traffic is getting better due to the traffic/road improvements being made.

Land in Clay County is mostly high and dry. Watch during a tropical storm/flooding where residents who live east of the St John's river evacuate to.

As a resident of Clay County I guess I'll stay a rung below here in the comforts of my 3200 SF plus 4 car garage home watching the golfers out my wall of windows getting ready to tee off. lol..

[Fl1150]

Originally Posted by sidewinder103

In spite of what others feel to berate Clay County it is hardly a rung below. Many fine military and good people live here and there is a reason why so many people live here.

We know people who have sold their homes in Ponte Vedra to move to Clay County because of corrosion issues, insurance/tax rates and because of the value they can obtain on a home, especially in the Gated/Golf Communities.

They are working on traffic solutions all over the Jax area and there is no traffic in this area that even compares to traffic in such areas as Atlanta on any scale. Traffic is hardly horrific as I drive from Clay to downtown Jax every day for over 20 years and the traffic is getting better due to the traffic/road improvements being made.

Land in Clay County is mostly high and dry. Watch during a tropical storm/flooding where residents who live east of the St John's river evacuate to.

As a resident of Clay County I guess I'll stay a rung below here in the comforts of my 3200 SF plus 4 car garage home watching the golfers out my wall of windows getting ready to tee off. lol..

I don't think the poster meant that in a malicious way but maybe people living in St. Johns County are more upper middle class vs Clay County which might be lower middle class.

[deeni]

I just moved to Fleming Island in Clay County and love it so far. I don't think I am a "rung below" anyone in St. Johns. We have two small kids and plan to put them in the elementary schools. If for some reason, they are not up to par, there are some private schools we can look into. But I have not heard anything bad about the schools and all of my neighbors seem to love the area. A lot of our neighbors work at NAS either as civilians or military. Where will you be working OP? That could help you decide which side of the bridge you want to live on. That was the deciding factor for us.

Although I agree that St. Johns is closer to the beaches and the Town Center mall, I think there is an illusion that fleming island is so far out there but I think it is only because if you want to go anywhere, you have to cross a bridge. The bridges are just like regular roads. If it didn't go over water, I don't think anyone would think anything about it??? People do tend to stay on the island when shopping. The island seems to have everything except a Lowes (there is a Home Depot), drive through Starbucks, Babiesrus/Toysrus. Those are the things I have been missing. But they are a short drive away in Orange Park. I drove to a few malls in Jax (Avenues and Orange Park) and do not find them worth it so I doubt I would have been going to them even if we lived across the street from them. I think St. John's Town Center is great but it would be quite a drive from parts of St. John's too.

As far as traffic, there is def a lot on 17. Heck the entire Jacksonville area seems to have a lot of congestion. But it is nothing like Phila traffic so it does not bother me. I have not sat in any traffic jams yet although I'm sure one accident could change that.

The beach is less than an hour away from us. We took a quick trip to Jax Beach the other morning. Stayed for a walk and quick breakfast and then headed home. We were back by the time the kids had to nap at 12:30.

When we were house hunting, we looked in St. Johns and originally thought we would buy there because we liked the idea of being in the best schools in Florida. But it felt less inviting and more stepford wives to me. It seemed less of a community. I think FI felt more like a small town and down to earth but not trashy at all. The teenagers are all so polite and friendly. They seem to like it here but do say it is boring.

Of course, a lot of this is relative. I came from outside of Phila where my commute was an hour, there was a lot of traffic, we had to drive everywhere, and the beaches were over 2 hours away. So Fleming Island has significantly improved our life style quite a bit.

[Fl1150]

Originally Posted by deeni

I just moved to Fleming Island in Clay County and love it so far. I don't think I am a "rung below" anyone in St. Johns. We have two small kids and plan to put them in the elementary schools. If for some reason, they are not up to par, there are some private schools we can look into. But I have not heard anything bad about the schools and all of my neighbors seem to love the area. A lot of our neighbors work at NAS either as civilians or military. Where will you be working OP? That could help you decide which side of the bridge you want to live on. That was the deciding factor for us.

Although I agree that St. Johns is closer to the beaches and the Town Center mall, I think there is an illusion that fleming island is so far out there but I think it is only because if you want to go anywhere, you have to cross a bridge. The bridges are just like regular roads. If it didn't go over water, I don't think anyone would think anything about it??? People do tend to stay on the island when shopping. The island seems to have everything except a Lowes (there is a Home Depot), drive through Starbucks, Babiesrus/Toysrus. Those are the things I have been missing. But they are a short drive away in Orange Park. I drove to a few malls in Jax (Avenues and Orange Park) and do not find them worth it so I doubt I would have been going to them even if we lived across the street from them. I think St. John's Town Center is great but it would be quite a drive from parts of St. John's too.

As far as traffic, there is def a lot on 17. Heck the entire Jacksonville area seems to have a lot of congestion. But it is nothing like Phila traffic so it does not bother me. I have not sat in any traffic jams yet although I'm sure one accident could change that.

The beach is less than an hour away from us. We took a quick trip to Jax Beach the other morning. Stayed for a walk and quick breakfast and then headed home. We were back by the time the kids had to nap at 12:30.

When we were house hunting, we looked in St. Johns and originally thought we would buy there because we liked the idea of being in the best schools in Florida. But it felt less inviting and more stepford wives to me. It seemed less of a community. I think FI felt more like a small town and down to earth but not trashy at all. The teenagers are all so polite and friendly. They seem to like it here but do say it is boring.

Of course, a lot of this is relative. I came from outside of Phila where my commute was an hour, there was a lot of traffic, we had to drive everywhere, and the beaches were over 2 hours away. So Fleming Island has significantly improved our life style quite a bit.

I'm glad you like where you live and hope you continue to have good experiences.

[fsquid]

Fleming Island is nice and has a great deal of upper middle class.

[deeni]

Originally Posted by Fl1150

I'm glad you like where you live and hope you continue to have good experiences.

Thanks! I'm sure reality will hit and the negatives will start to creep out. So far the weather is not bothering me but the bugs...OMG!!!

[KayT15]

Originally Posted by Fl1150

I don't think the poster meant that in a malicious way but maybe people living in St. Johns County are more upper middle class vs Clay County which might be lower middle class.

This isn't the first time SaintCabbage has insulted the people who live in Clay County. In this thread he claimed "Fleming Island seems far from everything except car dealerships and congestion on Blanding. Essentially 1 way in, 1 way out, and the caliber of people over there seems a little less than those on the other side of the bridge." (BTW, the remark about car dealerships and Blanding isn't even true.) For some reason, he feels superior to people who live here and wants everyone to know it. Reminds me of my narcissistic ex.

Originally Posted by fsquid

Fleming Island is nice and has a great deal of upper middle class.

Very true. I'm sure the people living in the million dollar+ lake- and riverfront homes would be amused at being called "a rung below" those living in St. Johns County.