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Living in
Palm Valley.
Palm Valley is an unincorporated community in St. Johns County, FL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Palm Valley
This is a quiet, affluent community on San Pablo Island sandwiched between the intracoastal waterway and A1A, positioned right in that sweet spot between Jacksonville's urban amenities and the more exclusive Ponte Vedra Beaches to the east—which means you get some of that area's prestige without being completely isolated. The median household income sits at $116,625 and the median home value around $690,800, so expect a well-established, comfortable neighborhood where most households are married couples, over half the population is 45 or older, and the vibe skews toward stability rather than young family hustle. The job market is solid with unemployment at just 4.0%, and your commute to Jacksonville proper averages around 25 minutes, making it accessible for work without feeling like you're living in the city proper.
Palm Valley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
51.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Foreign-Born
8.8%
Broadband Internet
96.6%
of households
Population Growth
-7.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.8% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Palm Valley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Palm Valley, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (10.4%), and 2.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.4%
of residents
65 and Older
27.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.0%
of households
Married Couples
52.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% above FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Palm Valley
In Palm Valley, rent runs 11% above the FL average, and home values are 92% above the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
99.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,490
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
81.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.9%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Palm Valley and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in St. Johns County, which includes Palm Valley, is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Palm Valley: St. Johns County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
St. Johns County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Palm Valley Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Jacksonville, FL metro area
Commute24.1 min avg
How Palm Valley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Palm Valley, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Medium hub3.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 121 mi
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Major hub28.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 77% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, which covers Palm Valley, runs 77% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
76
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
429.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by St. Johns County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 33 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
St. Johns County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In St. Johns County, which includes Palm Valley, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 33 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $39,400 |
| 2024 | 16 | Heavy Rain | $7,000 |
| 2023 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $83,000 |
| 2022 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2021 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $59,000 |
| 2020 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6,510 |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,500 |
| 2018 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
St. Johns County, county-wide
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Duval County, FL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 19 miles from Palm Valley) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
175
per year
Moderate Days
186
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Duval County, FL (19 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 51°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Palm Valley has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and warm winters (avg low 51°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/63°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/68°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/51°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
36
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
4
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
122
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 49°F | 3.50" |
| Feb | 68°F | 52°F | 2.82" |
| Mar | 72°F | 57°F | 3.21" |
| Apr | 77°F | 63°F | 3.01" |
| May | 83°F | 70°F | 2.93" |
| Jun | 87°F | 75°F | 6.79" |
| Jul | 89°F | 77°F | 4.90" |
| Aug | 89°F | 77°F | 7.54" |
| Sep | 86°F | 76°F | 7.19" |
| Oct | 80°F | 69°F | 5.10" |
| Nov | 73°F | 60°F | 2.50" |
| Dec | 67°F | 53°F | 2.95" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Palm Valley
Uninsured
1.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Palm Valley's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Baptist Medical Center Beaches
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Jacksonville Beach
Mayo Clinic
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Jacksonville
Ascension St Vincent's Southside
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.8 mi away · Jacksonville
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Palm Valley
Palm Valley's student/teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 71.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
71.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Palm Valley (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 13,359 students · in-state tuition $6,389 · 66% graduate · median earnings $59,626 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Florida
12.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 821 students · in-state tuition $20,845 · 61% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 659 students · in-state tuition $17,755 · 70% graduate · median earnings $22,688 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Palm Valley
Palm Valley has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
National Monument
20 mi awayTimucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
Ecological & Historic Preserve
21 mi awayFort Matanzas National Monument
National Monument
33 mi awayCumberland Island National Seashore
National Seashore
47 mi awayFort Frederica National Monument
National Monument
72 mi awayPublic Libraries in Palm Valley
Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library
101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach
Cities Near Palm Valley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Palm Valley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Palm Valley FAQ
Is Palm Valley, Florida affordable?⌄
Palm Valley's median rent is $1,856/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $116,625/year. Median home value is $690,800.
Is Palm Valley, Florida safe?⌄
Palm Valley is policed by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 76 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 430 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Palm Valley, Florida?⌄
St. Johns County, which includes Palm Valley, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Palm Valley, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Palm Valley is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,856/month and median household income is $116,625/year. The median home value is $690,800. About 62% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Palm Valley, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Palm Valley is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from