If you’re considering a move to northeastern Florida or are just looking for a refreshing change of scenery and a beautiful master-planned community, then St. Johns County should be high on your list of areas to live in.
St. Johns County was voted one of the best places to live in the United States. Also, St. Augustine and Jacksonville topped the list of best places to live in Northern Florida in 2022. With that in mind, moving to a community such as Beacon Lake in St. Johns County could be just the kind of change you’re looking for.
From location and affordability to local culture, here are the top perks of living in St. Johns County, Florida.
It’s difficult to beat the beautiful location of Beacon Lake. St. Johns County, St. Augustine, and the greater Jacksonville area provide Florida-style living at its best. With average high temperatures of 75° in winter and lower humidity than other parts of Florida, even in summer, residents enjoy some of the state’s best local weather.
When you call St. Johns County home, you live in a peaceful, safe area full of grade-A schools, top hospitals, premier shopping, restaurants, and more than 110,000 acres of parks and beautiful beaches, including Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, St. Augustine, and more!
Although Beacon Lake has incomparable resort-style amenities to keep you happy and busy without leaving home, it’s also easy to get around outside of St. Johns when it comes to work or entertainment.
Just a stone’s throw away is the booming economic center of Jacksonville, the biggest city in Florida. For this reason, Beacon Lake is popular with commuters from all walks of life. As Beacon Lake is situated between I-95 and US 1 on CR210, commuting to both Jacksonville and St. Augustine is a breeze.
In addition to an easy work commute, families can enjoy a plethora of day trips to the historical city of St. Augustine, go to an NFL football game in Jacksonville, and soak up the sun at the beach with only a 30-minute drive.
Living in St. Johns County really gives you the best of both worlds. You can enjoy the energy and excitement of living close to a major city and the perks of living in a safe and peaceful community with everything you need nearby.
Excellent schools is one of the leading reasons the population of St. Johns County is growing so rapidly. The region offers residents some of the state’s top-rated school systems. With high teacher-student ratios, less crowding, and minimal congestion, St. Johns County schools promise a safe educational environment for students.
In fact, Niche ranks St. Johns County as the #1 overall best school district in Florida and #2 in the state for student-athletes. They also ranked St. Johns County higher than more than 90% of the school districts in the United States (#990 out of 10,772).
Lighthouse and Maritime Museum
As mentioned earlier, St. Johns County is near one of the oldest settlements in America. St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the first governor of Florida.
Within the county, you’ll find fortresses, cathedrals, lighthouses, and villages representing half a millennium of American history. A rich cultural and educational experience is never far away.
There are numerous museums, galleries, and libraries for any culture vultures looking for some enlightenment, making St. Johns County close to one of the country’s true cultural meccas.
If you choose to settle down in St. Johns County, you can live in a beautiful community with resort-style amenities and lake-side views at an affordable price.
Located a short commute from city centers, the cost of living is lower than in Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Additionally, housing costs are lower than in many other parts of the state, with 3-5 bedroom coastal-inspired homes in Beacon Lake priced from the $400s. The affordability of a high-quality life is a major draw for St. Johns County, which is why people continue to flock here.
Between Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and the cities in between, foodies have nearly endless options to tickle their tastebuds. The city of St. Johns alone is home to cuisine from around the world at restaurants like:
Whether you prefer public, private, semi-private, or resort golf courses, you’ll find a course you’ll love in St. Johns County. Some of the nearby golf courses include:
Away from the stress of the big cities, St. Johns County offers relaxed, healthy living. You’re never more than a few minutes away from shopping centers, delicious restaurants, medical facilities, and much more.
Of course, those who embrace lifestyle living will also appreciate the county’s close proximity to the downtown dynamics that Jacksonville and St. Augustine offer, whether it be pristine beaches, museums, the arts, restaurants, entertainment, or even professional and college sports. Golf, fishing, hiking, biking, and water sports are also within easy reach for residents of the region.
First, start your day with a workout in Beacon Lake’s state-of-the-art fitness center or take a kayak lesson with a new neighbor. Whether you like to bike ride with your kids or run with your dog, there are many options for exercise and outdoor activities for all ages.
For the young ones, there’s never a dull moment. Beacon Lake has many options for fun activities for kids, such as:
When you call Beacon Lake your home in St. John’s County, there’s an unparalleled quality of living you won’t find anywhere else.
St Johns is roughly 25 miles away from Atlantic Beach when heading north. Traveling by car, it’s a roughly 40 minute drive.
The city of St Augustine is about eight and a half miles away from St Johns, FL. It’s about a 20 minute drive down FL route 16.
St Johns is just a little over 28 miles away from downtown Jacksonville, FL. If you’re driving, that figures to be about a 34 minute trip.
According to FBI crime data, St Johns has a lower crime rate than over 95% of the rest of Florida, and is safer than roughly 83% of all other places to live in the United States.
St. Johns County has an average of 224 sunny days per year, which is higher than the national average of 205. The county also averages 51 inches of rain per year – higher than the national average of 38 inches – but receives no snow. The average July high is around 91° and the average January low is 45°.
Florida is the number one state hit by hurricanes – it’s seen more than twice as many hurricanes as the next closest hurricane-prone state, which is Texas. However, Northeast Florida, where St. Johns County is located, is the second-least hurricane-prone area in Florida, with only inland North Florida receiving fewer hurricanes.
If you want easy beach access with the lowest chances of being hit by a severe hurricane, St. Johns county may be your best bet.
According to a study performed by Wall St. 24/7, St. Johns County is the richest county in Florida. Here are some of its financial statistics compared to the rest of the state:
At Beacon Lake, you will find a 358-acre nature preserve with a 43-acre paddle-friendly lake, plus parks, pools, playgrounds, and a fitness center. The whole family is sure to love living here.
Beacon Lake may be the perfect place for you and your family whether you are looking for a spacious single-family home or a luxury townhome.
To learn more about what life in St. Johns County’s Beacon Lake can offer you, contact Beacon Lake today to get put in touch with kind and helpful associates from Dream Finders and Mattamy Homes.
