At a glance
| Typical home value | $667,000 (+9.4% in a year, Zillow, Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | Peninsula south of downtown, off the west bank of the St. Johns River |
| Water | St. Johns River to the east; Ortega River to the north and west |
| Main roads | Roosevelt Boulevard (US 17) and Ortega Boulevard (SR 211) |
| Sections | Old Ortega east of US 17; Ortega Forest to the west |
| National Register | Old Ortega Historic District, listed 2004, 597 historic buildings |
| ZIP code | 32210 |
Where Ortega is and how you get in
Ortega was once an island. A land bridge at its southern end now carries Roosevelt Boulevard (US 17), which splits the peninsula: the older area east of the road is Old Ortega, and the newer streets to the west are Ortega Forest. From the north, Ortega Boulevard (SR 211) crosses the Ortega River on a two-lane bascule bridge built in 1927 and connects toward Avondale.
Ortega uses ZIP 32210, which also covers Lake Shore and the 103rd Street area.
Is Ortega a good area to buy in?
Ortega is one of the highest-priced neighborhoods in Zillow's Jacksonville data. Zillow's typical value was $666,955 in August 2026, up 9.4% in a year, more than double the Jacksonville figure of $285,103, which fell 0.8%. Buyers pay for river frontage, large lots and early 1900s architecture.
The same features bring the main costs: much of the peninsula is exposed to flooding, many houses are around a century old, and a typical value can swing when few homes sell. Compare it with San Marco across the river.
What Ortega is known for
Ortega was financed as a development in 1902, and the last big building boom came in the 1920s. The Old Ortega Historic District, east of US 17 and north of Verona Boulevard, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 with 597 historic buildings. Venetia, a 1925 Mediterranean-themed plan, still has its entrance gates, though the full resort plan was never built.
Homes and prices in Ortega
Zillow's typical value for Ortega was $666,955 and Ortega Forest was $628,654, up 7.6%. The 32210 ZIP as a whole was $222,701, down 2.1%, because it includes very different neighborhoods. Housing varies by section:
Riverfront estates
Large estates along the St. Johns and Ortega rivers, where flood zone and seawall condition matter most.
Ortega Point
Older wood-frame and Tudor houses around Bettes Park.
The historic district
More modest wood-frame homes from the early 1900s.
Ortega Terrace and Venetia
Larger stone and brick houses in mixed styles toward the south of the peninsula, and the 1925 Venetia plan.
Older homes need a thorough inspection and permit history; our Florida home inspection checklist lists what to ask for. Read the Jacksonville housing market report for days to pending and price cuts.
Living in Ortega
Parks and the rivers
Stockton Park on Ortega Boulevard and Timuquana Park are on the city's parks list for 32210.
Schools lookup
Duval County Public Schools assigns schools by address. In the state's 2025-26 grades, John Stockton and Venetia elementaries received an A, while Ortega Elementary and Lake Shore Middle received a C. Confirm the zoned school and see the Jacksonville schools guide for magnet options.
Getting around
Roosevelt Boulevard (US 17) runs along the peninsula, and Ortega Boulevard crosses the Ortega River bascule bridge north toward Avondale, so bridge openings can add time.
Costs: historic rules, taxes and flood
Historic review
National Register listing is recognition; the City of Jacksonville's Certificate of Appropriateness review applies to its local historic districts and local landmarks. The districts on the city's lookup page are Riverside Avondale with St Johns Quarter, and Springfield, so check any Ortega address on the city's land development map with the Historic layer on in case the building is a local landmark.
Property tax
Ortega is inside the City of Jacksonville, where the 2025 total millage was 17.7412, per the Duval County Property Appraiser. On a high-value home the homestead exemption is a small share of the bill, so ask for an estimate at your purchase price. See the Duval County property tax guide.
Flood insurance
With rivers on most sides, many Ortega parcels can fall in FEMA's high-risk A or AE zones, where federally backed mortgages require flood insurance. Pull the flood zone and any elevation certificate, ask for the seller's flood disclosure and quote insurance early, since a new NFIP policy usually starts 30 days after purchase. Our Jacksonville flood zone guide explains the zones.
Pros and cons of Ortega
- Pro: river frontage and early 1900s architecture on a peninsula close to downtown.
- Pro: values rose 9.4% in the year to August 2026 while the city fell.
- Pro: John Stockton and Venetia elementaries earned an A for 2025-26.
- Con: one of the highest typical values in Jacksonville.
- Con: flood exposure on much of the peninsula.
- Con: century-old houses need careful inspection and upkeep.
Common questions
How much are homes in Ortega, Jacksonville?+
Zillow's typical home value for Ortega was $666,955 in August 2026, up 9.4% in a year. Ortega Forest, west of Roosevelt Boulevard, was $628,654, up 7.6%. Riverfront estates and small early 1900s houses sit in the same neighborhood, so compare recent sales on the same street before judging a price.
Is Ortega in a historic district?+
The Old Ortega Historic District, east of US 17 and north of Verona Boulevard, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and has 597 historic buildings. The city's Certificate of Appropriateness rules apply to local historic districts and local landmarks, so check the specific address on the city's historic map.
Is Ortega in a flood zone?+
Ortega parcels can fall in FEMA high-risk flood zones because the peninsula is bordered by the St. Johns and Ortega rivers, and the zone can change from lot to lot. Look up the exact address on the FEMA flood map, ask for an elevation certificate and the seller's flood disclosure, and get an insurance quote during your inspection period.
What ZIP code is Ortega in?+
Ortega is in ZIP 32210, which also covers Lake Shore and the 103rd Street area. Zillow's typical value for the whole ZIP was $222,701 in August 2026, far below Ortega's $666,955, because the ZIP mixes very different neighborhoods. Use the Ortega and Ortega Forest figures, or street-level sales, instead.
What schools serve Ortega?+
Duval County Public Schools assigns schools by address. In Florida's 2025-26 grades, John Stockton and Venetia elementaries received an A, while Ortega Elementary and Lake Shore Middle received a C. Confirm the zoned schools for the exact home with the district, and ask about magnet options if the zoned school does not suit you.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ortega (Jacksonville)
- Zillow Research: Home value data (ZHVI, August 2026)
- City of Jacksonville: All parks (addresses)
- City of Jacksonville: Certificate of Appropriateness process
- City of Jacksonville: Historic district search by address
- FloodSmart (FEMA): What is my flood zone?
- FloodSmart (FEMA): Buy a flood insurance policy (30-day wait)
- Florida Statutes 689.302: Flood disclosure in the sale of residential property
- 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
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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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