relocating to JAX in June (Jacksonville, Plantation: foreclosures, rental market, motel)

[KL85]

We are moving to the Jax area in June from the St. Paul area of MN, and would love some advise on where to move. We are currently looking at the Oakleaf/ Fleming Island area. We have two elementary age children and schools are an important part of our decision. We are looking for a safe, family friendly neighborhood. We like the master built community and all of the amenities it provides. We are going to rent for a year and hope to buy in the same area. My husband will be working downtown Jacksonville and the commute to Julington Creek is further than he would like to drive. (We mapped out mileage to his actual job location) Thanks

[madcapmagishion]

I find it hard to believe it is further from Julington Creek to downtown Jacksonville than it is from Oakleaf/Fleming Island. If it is it must be a matter of a few feet or less. Oakleaf to I-10 is about 8 miles down SR-23 and then its about 10 miles on I-10 to downtown Jacksonville. Fleming Island may be only 15 miles to downtown Jacksonville on US-17. It is only about 10 miles down SR-13 from Julington Creek to downtown Jacksonville. Not knowing exactly where your husband works I used the Main Street and Bay Street intersection as that is about as downtown as one can get.

[KL85]

Per google maps it is about 5 miles difference each way. He will work in the Southwest corner of Downtown. It may change when we come in May and actually try the commutes.

[madcapmagishion]

Only thing I have to offer is that, as has been said on City Data many times ... Julington Creek Plantation is in St Johns county where the schools are ranked #1 in the state. And Oakleaf and Fleming Island are in Clay County where the schools are ranked #13 in the state. Thats out of a total of 67 counties in Florida.

[fsquid]

Originally Posted by KL85

Per google maps it is about 5 miles difference each way. He will work in the Southwest corner of Downtown. It may change when we come in May and actually try the commutes.

I'd try both commutes before you decide. My boss lives in Fleming Island and it is nice and meets your requirements. I live in JCP and it also meets your requirements. Also, JCP's rental market is pretty hot right now (probably because financing is harder to secure), so if you see something and want to be in this area, you'd be best serve to dial the number.

[fsu813]

Originally Posted by madcapmagishion

Only thing I have to offer is that, as has been said on City Data many times ... Julington Creek Plantation is in St Johns county where the schools are ranked #1 in the state. And Oakleaf and Fleming Island are in Clay County where the schools are ranked #13 in the state. Thats out of a total of 67 counties in Florida.

For those that know how these ratings are calculated, this means next to nothing.

Both are very good school districts, both rathed an "A" overall.

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by fsu813

For those that know how these ratings are calculated, this means next to nothing.

Both are very good school districts, both rathed an "A" overall.

To you maybe, but to people who really care it means something ...it means that on a list released by the Florida Department of Education, St Johns County is ranked #1 and Clay County is ranked #13, they may be seperated by just a few percentile points but there is a difference. Whereas Jacksonville is ranked #50 which is a B but still miserable. If it meant next to nothing why didn't they just list all the schools either
A, B, C, D or F why assign a numerical ranking? Because like in horseshoes and hand gernades close counts!

[Moving_to_5pts]

The commute from the Fleming Island area to downtown Jacksonville is tedious (and notorious), especially going through Orange Park. You may want to stay at a motel on Fleming Island and try that commute early in the morning and leave Jax at 5:00 in the afternoon to return. Just a few years ago it was ranked the worst commute in FL, and nothing has changed. It's not so bad when school is not in session, but most of the time, it's a drag. There's lots of foreclosures around, and unfinished strip malls. Do yourselves a favor and research as much as possible before you settle in.

By the way, Clay County Schools are in a cunundrum right now over whether to allow prayer on the school grounds, etc. The school superintendent is elected by the Clay County voters and one of the people running this year is a religious fanatic who will be very detrimental to separation of church and state. Separation is already in jeopardy here and the school board has 3 out of 5 members who will allow it.

[madcapmagishion]

As long as there are tests given in schools there will be prayer on school grounds!

[JBtwinz]

I keep hearing about Saint Johns schools versus other areas. Is there really that much difference between the schools?



https://app2.fldoe.org/Ranking/Schools/