By Max Sheikh
St. Johns County is known as one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida, yet for many young professionals and working-class residents, finding an affordable place to live becomes more difficult each year. With a median home price of $510,000 and the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment exceeding $2,200 per month, even those with stable jobs are struggling.
As demand for housing continues to grow, most new developments cater to retirees and high-income families rather than young professionals and working families. Teachers, nurses, and firefighters, the essential workers keeping the county running, are being priced out. Many are forced to travel from neighboring counties, increasing traffic congestion, and making it harder for St. Johns County to retain its workforce.
Jake Mitchell, 26, moved to St. Johns County in 2022 for both family and work. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University and took a remote job in digital marketing, expecting to have the financial stability to live comfortably. After researching housing prices, however, he realized homeownership will not be a realistic option soon.
“I kind of anticipated it being high, but when I sat down and actually crunched the numbers, it was worse than I thought,” he said.
Mitchell is not alone. Both young professionals and long-time residents are struggling to afford housing. And while the problem continues to grow, effective solutions continue to be stalled.
“I kind of anticipated it being high, but when I sat down and actually crunched the numbers, it was worse than I thought.”
Jake mitchell
In 2024, multiple housing developments designed to provide workforce housing were denied by county commissioners. Osceola Lakes, a 600-home project with 200 workforce units, was rejected due to infrastructure concerns. The Preserve at Ward’s Creek, a proposed 288-unit affordable apartment project, was denied even though the developer had offered a $7 million traffic improvement plan. Mills Workforce Housing, a 110-home project for middle-income workers, was also denied.
County officials argue that new developments would contribute to traffic congestion and overcrowded schools. However, for many residents, these rejections only reinforce the growing belief that St. Johns County prioritizes high-income residents over the workers necessary to keep the county functioning. Teachers, nurses, police officers, and other essential employees are among the hardest affected. With starting teacher salaries in Florida at approximately $47,000, homeownership is out of reach for most. Renting has also become increasingly difficult, forcing many to move to areas such as Clay County, Flagler County, or deeper into Duval. The outflow of workers from St. Johns is leading to longer drives and makes it harder for schools and hospitals to retain employees. Some hospitals are already experiencing nursing shortages, and local schools are struggling to keep teachers who refuse to endure long drives just to work in a district they cannot afford to live in.
The county’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee has proposed several solutions, including zoning changes, reductions in impact fees, and public-private partnerships to build mixed income communities. However, little action has been taken. County commissioners continue to resist large workforce housing projects, and developers are hesitant and coy to propose new ones after seeing earlier plans rejected. While new proposals are expected in 2025, none have been introduced yet.
With no workforce housing projects currently in progress, homes in St. Johns County remain unaffordable for most young professionals and essential workers. As home prices and rents stay high, the lack of affordable housing is driving more residents to seek housing elsewhere, further worsening the county’s workforce shortages.
Graphic done by Ryder Navarra
