Suburbs are experiencing a renaissance, and the Jacksonville suburbs are no exception. As individuals and families discover the benefits of living in the suburbs, people are renewing their love affair with the “burbs.” With this renewed interest, suburbs are thriving as great investment opportunities offering families homes with new and improved amenities, more space, greater privacy, and enhanced safety.
Here are some of the many benefits of raising a family in the Jacksonville suburbs. Want to call this area home? Check out Beacon Lake for stunning single-family homes in St. Johns County.
Out in the suburbs, homeowners find more space to spread out with larger homes and no upstairs neighbors. Families, dog owners, car enthusiasts, boaters, and others find freedom in the suburbs, away from the confines of city living but with all the conveniences only a short distance away.
In the suburbs, there is little congestion and fewer crowds, unlike in the city only a few miles away. With fewer people and open spaces, the suburbs mean more privacy and increased safety.
Generally, smaller homes in the city center are more costly than homes in the suburbs, which allow homebuyers to get the most home for their money – plus open outdoor living spaces and amenities galore.
As a bonus, in the Jacksonville area, the cost of living is lower than most cities of similar size in Florida and across the nation. The greater Jacksonville region is a great place to invest in a home where home values continue to appreciate.
Along with less crowding and congestion comes better school systems with enhanced teacher-student ratios. In most cases, suburban school systems are more highly rated than city systems, and this is certainly true for St. Johns County schools. In fact, St. Johns County School District was rated #3 by schooldigger.com and #1 by niche.com, for the Best School District in Florida in 2022!
Rated by Niche, the rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents from the U.S. Department of Education. Rankings include:
According to the St. Johns County School District, Beacon Lake’s school-age residents will be assigned to Ocean Palms Elementary School, Alice B. Landrum Middle School, and Beachside High School. Click here for more information about St. Johns County schools.
Suburb populations are changing for the better as millennials join the ranks of suburbanites, where urban living now includes everything from organic farmer’s markets to nature with walking and bike trails to entertainment venues. Mixed-use spaces are growing in popularity, and community amenities like playgrounds, dog parks, pools, fitness centers, gathering places, and playing fields become part of the suburban landscape.
The greater Jacksonville area is home to some of the best-planned suburban communities in the country that deliver on abundant amenities like interconnected sidewalks, hiking and biking, nature trails, golf courses, pool complexes, and more.
The suburbs of Jacksonville offer the promise of abundant job opportunities in and around the city from finance to healthcare, federal and state government, logistics, defense, media, and so much more. Suburban living around Jacksonville also means residents have a greater voice in community development and local government where smaller communities make it easier to be active and have your ideas heard.
Searching for a home where you and your family can experience all the benefits of living in the suburbs of Jacksonville? If your answer is yes, you’ll want to explore the single-family homes in St. Augustine at Beacon Lake, a one-of-a-kind community featuring a 43-acre, paddle-friendly lake, beautifully nestled amid a picturesque 358-acre nature preserve.
Beacon Lake living is designed with community in mind, delivering a friendly neighborhood filled with parks (bark park included); sidewalks lined with benches, swings, and firepits; plus a fitness center; an Olympic-sized swimming pool; splash areas for kids; and playgrounds. Coastal-inspired architecture is showcased in each home’s unique design which features options for a variety of colors, elements, and elevations.
If you choose to settle down in the Jacksonville suburbs of St. Johns County, Beacon Lake is widely known for the next-level amenities everyone’s been lining up to enjoy, snap a picture of, and make a part of their everyday life.
Suburban dwellers also enjoy the spectacular weather for which the area is known, amid a flourishing economy, close proximity to the Atlantic as well as rivers, estuaries, and lakes, a high quality of life with a low cost of living, plus all the features and activities Jacksonville has to offer.
If you are considering a move to the greater Jacksonville area, here is an overview of everything you need to know about moving to Northern Florida, featuring everything from perks and activities to the best time of year to move!
A gem amongst the suburban communities surrounding Jacksonville, Beacon Lake is in beautiful St. Johns County and boasts award-winning builders and single-family homes and townhomes with prices starting in the mid-$500s. Of course, with many great suburban communities from which to choose, you may be wondering: Why Beacon Lake?
In addition to beautiful single-family homes in St. Johns County, Beacon Lake promises exceptional amenities including a 43-acre paddle-friendly lake and a state-of-the-art amenity and fitness center. On Beacon Lake’s western shore, the Lake House Amenity and Fitness Center delivers both indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities.
In the Beacon Lake community, families can enjoy time along the shore, on the lake, in the pool, at the Splash Park, on the playground, at the tennis courts, on the multipurpose field, at the bark park, and so much more! The community also promises numerous events and activities, from cooking classes to family-friendly gatherings.
The Beacon Lake community is zoned for some of the highest-rated schools in the state. Students are currently assigned to Ocean Palms Elementary School, Alice B. Landrum Middle School, and Beachside High School, with land set aside for future school construction.
At Beacon Lake, the natural beauty of northeast Florida’s coastline is combined with lakefront or preserve views and resort-style community features to create your dream lifestyle.
Beacon Lake was designed to be an intimate community with big community amenities. Only 1,280 single-family homes and 196 townhomes will be built on the 630-acre property. In Phase 3B, our three to five-bedroom homes range in size from 1,600 to 4,000 square feet with a broad selection of exterior elevations, colors, and architectural elements from which to choose. See the Beacon Lake site plan here.
Beacon Lake isn’t just a Jacksonville suburb; it’s conveniently located between both Jacksonville and St. Augustine, providing you with twice as many opportunities for work and leisure with all the benefits of quiet suburban living.
Thanks to Beacon Lake’s handy location between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, there are TONS of things to do, whether you prefer fun in the sun or the joys of air conditioning. Here are some of the best things to do in the areas surrounding Beacon Lake.
The only zoo in Northeast Florida, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens features more than 100 acres of award-winning exhibits and gardens. Open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is 1 of only 7 zoos in the U.S. with an animal wellness team, which helps them provide the very best care for their animals.
When it’s time for date night, check out the #1 whiskey tour in North America at the St. Augustine Distillery. Free self-guided tours are available 7 days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., where you can see how the distillery makes their spirits from farm to bottle, sample four signature cocktails, and even enjoy the “Fill Your Own Bottle Experience” and personalize a bottle of cask-strength bourbon.
Completely run by volunteers, the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary houses lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, bobcats, coatimundis, and arctic foxes and focuses on educating the public about the dangers of owning these animals as pets as well as their plight in the wild.
If you choose to live in Beacon Lake, there’s a good chance your kids will take a field trip to Catty Shack at some point, but if you want to go as a family, we recommend the 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday night feedings, where the executive director gives fascinating facts about each species while the big cats eat up to 600 pounds of chicken and beef, bones and all!
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park offers daily wildlife shows, including alligator feedings at noon and 3 p.m. Attractions include the Wading Bird Rookery, Lemurs of Madagascar, Python Cave, Land of Crocodiles, Realm of the Saltie, Florida Native Reptiles, Birds of Africa, Sloth Landing, and more.
Prefer the view from above? You can also zip line over the zoo.
What’s life in Florida without trips to the beach? Between St. Augustine and Jacksonville, there are plenty of beaches to choose from, so you’re certain to find your family’s favorite.
Prefer spending time indoors? Affectionately known as MOSH, Jacksonville’s Museum of Science & History is open Thursdays through Mondays (closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and some holidays). Between the core exhibits, signature exhibits, traveling exhibits, and more, there’s always something new to see at MOSH.
Travel back in time more than 300 years to Port Royal, Jamaica at the height of the Golden Age of Piracy at the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum. Take a private or group tour of the Museum or throw a Pirate Birthday Party your kid will never forget.
Are you ready to find your suburban Jacksonville dream home? Start your search today at Beacon Lake, where you will find exactly what you are looking for – fabulous homes perfect for the family, a great school system, and amenities galore in a safe and fun environment which can’t be beaten!
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Explore Dream Finders Homes and Toll Brothers to see which styles and site plans suit your family’s needs and style best. Contact Beacon Lake today to find your dream home – you’ll love living here!
