St. Johns vs Clay County (Jacksonville, Plantation: transplants, real estate, houses)

[familymom]

Is one area more desirable? Better schools? More rural, less services? If you were moving into one of these counties, would one be more excepting of newcomers?

[fsu813]

VERY big difference.

St. John's County is much more desirable. Everything, for the most part, is new & nice. Great school systems. Booming growth. Mostly middle to upper income.

Clay County is mostly 50's-70's style homes and buildings. On the whole, it's not nearly as nice of an area. Not nearly as much growth or renovation. The school systems are ok, but known for being excellent.

[kbarjae]

st johns county has plenty of real estate available ,people are leaving at an astounding rate,

[riveree]

Originally Posted by familymom

Is one area more desirable? Better schools? More rural, less services? If you were moving into one of these counties, would one be more excepting of newcomers?

St. John's county has ocean access while Clay county is landlocked so that has always affected desirability/real estate values with St. Johns county having the advantage.

Both counties have rural land but the perception is that Clay is more "country" while St. John's is more "retirement/beach". Clay has always been the county to move to for an escape from "the tourists" of St. John's and the "big city" of Duval/Jacksonville. Clay is where you look when you want a big parcel of land and a quiet country life.

Both counties have suburban living and that's where they are most similar. You can find a new/newer family friendly planned development in either county. The same developers built the same houses in both counties, sometimes even down to the floor plans . The schools are comparable, the differences are negligible.

St. John's county has a history of welcoming newcomers since it has long been a retirement area and a tourist destination. Clay county has always been more for locals/natives, but that has changed in recent years with the newer communities in the eastern part of the county.

Part of the equation should be your daily commute, if you'll have one. Chances are good you'll be commuting into Jax for work and that often means traveling well into the middle of Jax, not just to the county line.

There are more subtle, cultural differences between the counties as well and which one is right for you will boil down to personal preference. Between us, my husband and I have lived in both St. John's and Clay counties but we now live in - and prefer - Duval/Jax .

[joninclay]

St. John's County is much more desirable. Everything, for the most part, is new & nice. Great school systems. Booming growth. Mostly middle to upper income.

Have you ever been to Clay County? Specifically, the Fleming Island, Eagle Harbor, and Oakleaf Plantation parts of Clay County? To use your own words, "Everything, for the most part, is new & nice. Great school systems. Booming growth. Mostly middle to upper income." All of those apply to these, and other, parts of Clay County.

Clay County is mostly 50's-70's style homes and buildings.

Wrong. I've seen very few of those.

Not nearly as much growth or renovation.

Wrong. Like, a million percent wrong.

The school systems are ok, but [not] known for being excellent.

And Wrong. Again. The schools are indeed excellent.

Geez, it's like your reviews are from someone who doesn't live in Clay County. Wait a minute...the reviews ARE from someone who doesn't live here! Well, that explains a lot.

Now, while Riveree may not live here in Clay (though she has before), her assessments are by and large much more accurate:

St. John's county has ocean access while Clay county is landlocked so that has always affected desirability/real estate values with St. Johns county having the advantage.

That is true. But not everyone can afford near-ocean homes. Plus, before the real estate bust about 2 - 3 years ago, values here in Clay were appreciating very well. I bought my home in 2002 for $140k, and sold it four years later for $230k.

The schools are comparable, the differences are negligible.

Absolutely true. I have no knocks against SJC, especially their schools, which are as good as Clay's. No question.

Clay county has always been more for locals/natives...

I was about to howl about this one, considering that over 90% of the people I know here are not natives or locals. However...

...but that has changed in recent years with the newer communities in the eastern part of the county.

She gets it right with that statement!

In my view, the counties are so similar (especially with the schools) that you can't go wrong with either one. I think this assessment by Riveree is dead-on 100% true, and it should probably be the top determining factor (aside from finances, of course):

Part of the equation should be your daily commute, if you'll have one.

Yes, yes, and a thousand times, YES! Where you work is key. For example, if you work on the Westside, in Clay County, in Mandarin, or on the Northside, then Clay County is your best bet. If you work near the beach, near Mayport, in SJC, etc., then SJC is your best bet. If you work on the Southside, then an argument can be made for either, with SJC probably a slightly better choice. If you work in downtown Jax, both drives would $uck, but depending on what part of SJC or Clay you live in, one part may $uck less than the other.

There are more subtle, cultural differences between the counties as well and which one is right for you will boil down to personal preference.

Indeed. I've lived in Clay for the last 7+ years with my wife and two kids, and I absolutely love it here. I could see why people would like SJC, too, though.

[mawipafl]

Thank you joninclay and riveree for saving me from posting a rather lengthy rebuttal to a previous post.

Ditto to everything you both wrote.

[Dappleganger]

The biggest difference between the two is how the counties are governed. It doesn't take much googling to find out which one is preferable.

[he's so hott]

JohninClay you saved me from posting. Both Clay and St Johns are full of transplants. Every time I come down to visit that's all that I see. So Clay isn't just for "locals and natives". And both counties have new communities so that shouldn't be a factor a decision as to move to one or the other.

And what is this about moving to Clay for a big parcel and "country" living. Had to paraphrase Riveree. Really! B/c if you travel up and down Blanding Blvd and throughout Arglye it isn't exactly big parcel of land and 'country' living. That prolly would apply to the very southern section of Clay county, but even that section of the county is/was experiencing a boom in housing developments that are wiping out the 'big parcel, country living' aspect.