Relocation guide · St. Johns County
Moving to Nocatee, Florida
Everything someone moving to Nocatee from another state actually needs to compare — distances, schools, taxes, flood zones, HOA and CDD costs, and where to check each one yourself.
Approximate driving distance and typical time outside peak traffic. Check your own route: Open in Google Maps, opens in a new tab
Nocatee at a glance
Where it is: Northern St. Johns County, extending slightly into Duval, between US-1 and the Intracoastal.
Nocatee is a large master-planned community that regularly appears on national lists of top-selling master-planned communities. The appeal is easy to understand: the Splash and Spray water parks, an extensive greenway trail network, golf-cart-friendly streets, a Town Center with everyday amenities, and St. Johns County schools.
It is not one neighborhood but many, each with different builders, price points, lot sizes and amenity access. If you are moving from out of state, the number that decides whether Nocatee works for you is rarely the purchase price — it is the all-in monthly figure: mortgage, non-homesteaded taxes, insurance, HOA and the CDD assessment.
Who this area tends to suit
- Families with children — Amenities and St. Johns County schools are the two biggest draws.
- New construction buyers — Multiple active builders — register with your agent on the first visit.
- Active retirees — Del Webb Nocatee is age-restricted with its own amenity set.
- Out-of-state movers — A turnkey, low-friction landing place with a strong ready-made community.
What it costs and how it works in Nocatee
Typical homes & communities
Almost entirely built since the mid-2000s: single-family homes, townhomes and villas across a wide range of sizes, plus active-adult housing in Del Webb.
Twenty Mile · Crosswater · Coastal Oaks · Greenleaf Village · Willowcove · Daniel Park · Addison Park · Riverwood · Del Webb Nocatee (55+) · Seabrook Village · Nocatee Town Center
New construction
One of the most active new-construction markets in Northeast Florida, with several builders selling simultaneously across different villages.
Shopping & restaurants
Nocatee Town Center covers everyday needs — grocery, pharmacy, restaurants, medical and fitness. Durbin Park and St. Johns Town Center are 15–25 minutes north.
Parks & recreation
Splash Water Park, Spray Park, the Nocatee Greenway trail network, kayak launches on the Intracoastal, dog parks and community pools.
Nearby destinations
Ponte Vedra Beach and the Atlantic about 15 minutes east, TPC Sawgrass nearby, and Jacksonville’s Southside about 25 minutes north.
Commute
Nocatee Parkway connects to US-1 and to A1A at Ponte Vedra; I-95 is reached via CR 210. Roughly 25–35 minutes to the Southside office corridor outside peak hours.
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), opens in a new tab · Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), opens in a new tab
HOA & CDD
Every Nocatee home carries a CDD assessment — the community’s districts include the Tolomato CDD — plus HOA dues. Amounts vary by village and by individual parcel, so the specific figure has to be confirmed for the specific address before you make an offer. Some villages also restrict leasing.
Home prices
Prices move constantly and vary street by street, so no figure is published here. For current, verifiable numbers ask Omer for a comparative market analysis on the specific streets you are considering, or look up recent sales through the county property appraiser below.
Schools
Attendance zones change as the area grows. Always confirm the current assignment for a specific address with the district before you write an offer.
Flood zones
Flood zone varies street by street across Northeast Florida. Look up any address you are serious about, and budget for flood insurance if the lender will require it.
Property taxes
Florida property taxes are reassessed after a sale, so the seller’s current bill is not what you will pay — especially where a homestead exemption is in place. Use the county estimator with your expected purchase price.
Home insurance
In Florida, roof age, construction type, wind-mitigation features and flood zone drive the premium more than the purchase price does. Get an insurance quote during your inspection period, not after.
Check it yourself — official sources
St. Johns County
- St. Johns County government, opens in a new tab
- St. Johns County School District, opens in a new tab
- SJCSD attendance-zone locator, opens in a new tab
- St. Johns County Property Appraiser, opens in a new tab
- St. Johns County tax estimator, opens in a new tab
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search by address, opens in a new tab
- Florida Dept. of Revenue — homestead & property tax exemptions, opens in a new tab
- Florida Dept. of Financial Services — insurance consumer services, opens in a new tab
Nocatee — common questions
What does it actually cost to own a home in Nocatee?
The purchase price is only part of it. In St. Johns County the monthly figure is set by the property tax after reassessment, homeowners and windstorm insurance, flood insurance where the zone requires it, and any HOA or CDD obligation. Every Nocatee home carries a CDD assessment — the community’s districts include the Tolomato CDD — plus HOA dues. Amounts vary by village and by individual parcel, so the specific figure has to be confirmed for the specific address before you make an offer. Some villages also restrict leasing. Run the county tax estimator with your expected purchase price rather than the seller’s current bill.
Which school district serves Nocatee?
Nocatee is served by St. Johns County School District. Attendance zones change as the area grows, so confirm the current assignment for a specific address with the district before you write an offer — the zone, not the district, is what determines the assigned school.
Is Nocatee in a flood zone?
Flood zone varies street by street across Northeast Florida, and Nocatee is no exception. Look up the specific address in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. If the property sits in a high-risk zone your lender will require flood insurance, and that premium belongs in your budget from the start rather than after closing.
How far is Nocatee from downtown Jacksonville and the airport?
Downtown Jacksonville: ~25 mi (≈ ~35 min). Jacksonville Int’l Airport (JAX): ~35 mi (≈ ~45 min). Nearest beach: ~7 mi (≈ ~15 min).
Why will my property taxes in Nocatee be different from the seller’s?
Florida property is reassessed after a sale, so the seller’s current bill — especially with a homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes cap in place — is not what you will pay. Use the county property appraiser’s tax estimator with your expected purchase price to get a realistic number.