1st Advantage MortgageThe median St. Johns County household earns $109,839, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Florida license first.
On this page
- St. Johns County by the numbers
- Income in St. Johns County compared with Florida
- Rent, home values and ownership in St. Johns County
- Jobs and commutes in St. Johns County
- St. Johns County towns compared
- The counties around St. Johns County
- Budget math at the St. Johns County median
- Who lives in St. Johns County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in St. Johns County
- Licensing and complaints for St. Johns County
- Checklist for St. Johns County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
St. Johns County by the numbers
Roughly 306,934 residents live in St. Johns County, Florida, 22nd by population among the state's 67 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 601 square miles, that is close to 511 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Jacksonville, FL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 14 Census places inside St. Johns County, Fruit Cove leads by population with about 35,877; 2 of the 14 are incorporated.
Income in St. Johns County compared with Florida
The median household income in St. Johns County is $109,839; statewide it is $74,568, so St. Johns County runs 47% above Florida as a whole. In the state ranking that is 1st of 67.
| Income band | Share in St. Johns County | Difference from Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.4% | -9.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.4% | -7.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.5% | +5.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 22.7% | +11.7 pts |
Some 12% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 54% have six-figure incomes. 6.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the St. Johns County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in St. Johns County
A typical St. Johns County rental runs $1,922 a month including utilities, which is 15% above Florida. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 60% of renter households here. Home values center on $489,200, or 4.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 82%. Median construction year: 2004.
| Home costs | St. Johns County | Florida | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,922/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $489,200 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.8% | 8.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 15% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Jobs and commutes in St. Johns County
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 17%. Compared with Florida, the county leans toward finance, insurance and real estate (13% against 8%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.3% in St. Johns County. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of St. Johns County workers | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 16.7% | +2.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 12.8% | +4.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | -1.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | -2.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
St. Johns County towns compared
14 Census places fall mainly inside St. Johns County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 162,868 residents, leaving about 47% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Crescent Beach has the highest median household income on the list ($146,042) and St. Augustine Shores the lowest ($73,688), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,147 in Flagler Estates to $3,501 in Nocatee. No St. Johns County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 14.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit Cove | CDP | 35,877 | $141,863 | $2,336 | 19 mi |
| Nocatee | CDP | 27,442 | $141,868 | $3,501 | 13 mi |
| World Golf Village | CDP | 26,077 | $117,212 | $2,299 | 8 mi |
| Palm Valley | CDP | 19,796 | $116,625 | $1,856 | 21 mi |
| St. Augustine | city | 15,351 | $78,151 | $1,653 | 5 mi |
| St. Augustine Shores | CDP | 9,462 | $73,688 | $2,084 | 8 mi |
| St. Augustine Beach | city | 6,860 | $100,802 | $1,807 | 8 mi |
| Sawgrass | CDP | 4,929 | $122,500 | $1,951 | 21 mi |
| St. Augustine South | CDP | 4,714 | $75,996 | $1,448 | 6 mi |
| Butler Beach | CDP | 4,610 | $76,689 | $1,743 | 10 mi |
| Flagler Estates | CDP | 4,321 | $75,957 | $1,147 | 17 mi |
| Vilano Beach | CDP | 2,188 | $120,750 | $2,543 | 7 mi |
| Crescent Beach | CDP | 809 | $146,042 | $2,350 | 15 mi |
| Hastings | CDP | 432 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
The counties around St. Johns County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to St. Johns County's, from 29 to 54 miles away. Nassau County leads the group on income ($89,804), Putnam County trails ($47,934), and St. Johns County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Johns County | - | $109,839 | $1,922/mo | 82% |
| Putnam County, FL | 29 mi | $47,934 | $906/mo | 75% |
| Clay County, FL | 29 mi | $87,820 | $1,551/mo | 76% |
| Flagler County, FL | 30 mi | $77,363 | $1,722/mo | 83% |
| Duval County, FL | 34 mi | $71,277 | $1,475/mo | 58% |
| Bradford County, FL | 46 mi | $63,050 | $863/mo | 73% |
| Nassau County, FL | 54 mi | $89,804 | $1,526/mo | 83% |
Budget math at the St. Johns County median
St. Johns County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $9,153 a month: gross income for a household at the St. Johns County median
- 21% goes to median rent ($1,922)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,014 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in St. Johns County, in numbers
Degree holders: 51% of adults over 25. 5.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | St. Johns County | Florida | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 50.9% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.2% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.1% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 26.7% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | St. Johns County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 5.2% |
Borrowing situations common in St. Johns County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for St. Johns County borrowers.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 54% of St. Johns County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Tight rental budgets. With 60% of St. Johns County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Licensing and complaints for St. Johns County
Consumer lenders serving St. Johns County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Florida that is the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Florida state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for St. Johns County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Florida guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in St. Johns County earn?
The median is $109,839; 54% earn $100,000 or more and 12% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in St. Johns County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,922 a month; 60% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in St. Johns County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 82% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in St. Johns County?
By population: Fruit Cove, Nocatee, World Golf Village, Palm Valley, St. Augustine. The county has 14 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in St. Johns County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.