At a glance
| Government | Separate city in Duval County; kept its own government at the 1968 consolidation |
|---|---|
| Population | 23,830 (2020 census) |
| Housing units | 12,789 (2020 census) |
| History | Incorporated as Pablo Beach in 1907; renamed Jacksonville Beach in 1925 |
| Electric | Beaches Energy Services, owned by the city |
| Main roads | Beach Boulevard (US 90), SR A1A and Butler Boulevard (SR 202) |
Is Jacksonville Beach part of Jacksonville?
No. When Jacksonville consolidated with Duval County in 1968, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Baldwin voted to keep their own municipal governments. Jacksonville Beach has its own city manager, council and mayor, but it receives county-level services from Jacksonville and its residents vote for Jacksonville's mayor and city council.
It is the largest town in the Jacksonville Beaches, with 23,830 residents at the 2020 census on about 7.3 square miles of land between the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean.
Is Jacksonville Beach a good area to buy in?
It suits buyers who want to live by the ocean inside Duval County with a small-city government and its own electric utility. The costs to weigh are a higher total tax rate than the City of Jacksonville, flood insurance on many parcels, and coastal building rules on the oceanfront.
Our data set has no Zillow typical value for Jacksonville Beach, and its ZIP codes are not in the Jacksonville ZIP code table. For a nearby benchmark, ZIP 32233 in Atlantic Beach was $489,045 in August 2026, against $285,103 for Jacksonville as a whole.
What Jacksonville Beach is known for
The city was incorporated as Pablo Beach in 1907 and renamed Jacksonville Beach in 1925, and it grew as a resort reached by rail and later by Atlantic Boulevard. Landmarks include the Jacksonville Beach Pier, destroyed by Hurricane Floyd in 1999, rebuilt five years later and partly destroyed again by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and the 1925 Casa Marina Hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Adventure Landing is the city's amusement park, and driving on the beach has been banned since 1979.
Homes and prices in Jacksonville Beach
The city had 12,789 housing units at the 2020 census. Of those, 11.2% were vacant on census day and the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%. Compare recent sales on the same street, and ask a local agent to pull oceanfront and inland sales separately so you compare like with like.
Oceanfront and near-beach homes
Homes east of A1A carry the most coastal exposure: check the flood zone, the Coastal Construction Control Line and the roof and window protection before you price insurance.
Condos and townhomes
If you are looking at a unit near the water, read our Jacksonville condo guide for the association documents to request, including milestone inspection and reserve records.
Inland streets toward the Intracoastal
West of the beach, homes run toward the Intracoastal Waterway. Flood zones can change here too, so check each address rather than assuming distance from the ocean means low risk.
Living in Jacksonville Beach
Beach, pier and things to do
The pier, the oceanfront and Adventure Landing are in the city, and the Beaches communities of Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach lie to the north.
Schools lookup
Duval County Public Schools runs the public schools here and assigns a neighborhood school by home address. San Pablo, Jacksonville Beach and Seabreeze elementaries and Fletcher Middle are in the city, and all four were graded A by the state for 2025-26. Confirm the zoned school for the exact address, and see our Jacksonville schools guide for magnet and transfer options.
Getting around
Beach Boulevard (US 90) runs west to the Southside and on to downtown Jacksonville over the Hart Bridge, and it ends at SR A1A three blocks from the ocean. Butler Boulevard (SR 202) links the south end of the city to Philips Highway, and SR A1A is the main commercial road along the beach.
Electric utility
Beaches Energy Services, the city-owned electric utility, serves Jacksonville Beach along with Neptune Beach, Ponte Vedra and Palm Valley. Ask the seller for 12 months of electric bills.
Costs: tax rate, flood insurance and coastal permits
Property tax
The Duval County Property Appraiser's 2025 final millage for Jacksonville Beach was 18.4452, against 17.7412 inside the City of Jacksonville and 17.2004 in Atlantic Beach. The Beaches towns pay a lower consolidated-government rate (7.9012 mills, kept for 2026 in Jacksonville's September budget) plus their own city levy. File for homestead by March 1 if the home is your main residence; the Duval County property tax guide shows the math.
Flood insurance
Look up the exact parcel on the FEMA flood map. Zones A and AE are high risk, VE is coastal high risk with wave action, and flood insurance is required for federally backed mortgages in those zones. A new NFIP policy normally starts 30 days after purchase. Florida sellers must also disclose known flood damage, flood insurance claims and federal flood aid at or before signing. Check the evacuation zone too. See our Jacksonville flood zone guide.
Coastal Construction Control Line
Construction seaward of Florida's Coastal Construction Control Line needs a state permit from the Department of Environmental Protection. That matters if you plan to rebuild, add on or install a dune walkover on a beachfront lot.
Pros and cons of Jacksonville Beach
- Pro: oceanfront city with its own government and city-owned electric utility.
- Pro: the four public schools in the city were all graded A for 2025-26.
- Pro: US 90 and Butler Boulevard connect it to the Southside and downtown.
- Con: a higher 2025 total millage than the City of Jacksonville.
- Con: hurricane and flood exposure; Matthew in 2016 forced a mandatory evacuation.
- Con: no clean Zillow figure for the city, so pricing depends on street-level sales.
Common questions
Is Jacksonville Beach its own city?+
Yes. Jacksonville Beach kept its own municipal government when Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated in 1968. It has its own mayor, council and city manager, while Jacksonville provides county-level services. Residents also vote in Jacksonville's mayoral and council elections. The city had 23,830 residents at the 2020 census.
Do Jacksonville Beach homes pay Jacksonville city taxes?+
They pay a different rate. In September 2026 Jacksonville's council set 11.1919 mills inside the City of Jacksonville and 7.9012 mills in the Beaches towns. Jacksonville Beach adds its own city rate, and school and other authorities are added too; the 2025 total was 18.4452. Ask for the parcel's last tax bill before you compare homes.
Do I need flood insurance in Jacksonville Beach?+
If the home is in a high-risk FEMA zone such as AE or VE and you use a federally backed mortgage, flood insurance is required. Homes outside those zones can still flood, and standard homeowners policies do not cover flood. A new NFIP policy usually takes effect 30 days after purchase, so get a quote early.
What schools serve Jacksonville Beach?+
Duval County Public Schools assigns schools by address. San Pablo, Jacksonville Beach and Seabreeze elementaries and Fletcher Middle are in the city, and each received an A in the state's 2025-26 grades. Use the district's school locator to confirm which school serves a specific home.
Who provides electricity in Jacksonville Beach?+
Beaches Energy Services, which is owned by the City of Jacksonville Beach, supplies electricity to Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Ponte Vedra and Palm Valley. Ask the seller for 12 months of bills, since air conditioning use drives summer costs. Confirm who provides water, sewer and trash service to the address as well.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jacksonville Beach, Florida
- Jacksonville Today: Council approves $2B budget (2026 millage rates)
- FloodSmart (FEMA): What is my flood zone?
- FloodSmart (FEMA): Buy a flood insurance policy (30-day wait)
- Florida DEP: Coastal Construction Control Line program
- Florida Statutes 689.302: Flood disclosure in the sale of residential property
- Florida Division of Emergency Management: Know Your Zone
- Beaches Energy Services
- Florida Department of Education: 2025-26 school grades (released September 2026)
- Duval County Public Schools: School choice options
- Duval County Property Appraiser: Millage rates
- Duval County Property Appraiser: 2025 Final Millages chart
- Florida Legislature: Milestone inspections, section 553.899
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Antonio Roberts
Antonio Roberts has spent five years helping more than 500 Florida buyers and sellers choose the right real estate agent. He is not a real estate agent himself: he researches what matters in a Florida move and connects people with licensed local agents, free of charge.
Reviewed by a licensed Florida real estate agent. Before publication, this guide was checked for accuracy by a licensed Florida real estate agent on our team. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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