What it's like to live in St. Augustine
St. Augustine is a small city in Florida with commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, a population that has grown fast since 2020, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average.
Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next. The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly.
The good
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How St. Augustine compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to St. Augustine
Based on St. Augustine's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,306
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $66,120 a year
- 60% of St. Augustine renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$87,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $43,980
- Homes cost 5.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 17% above US
$1,653/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,653 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $439,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $439,800 · 60% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in St. Johns County is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
St. Johns County (county-wide)
SafetyNear US average
350 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2708/100k · St. Augustine Police Department · 2023 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 50°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 24% above US
45% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 45% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (0 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
St. Augustine's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,653/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals.
Other places near St. Augustine
All Florida guides →Moving to World Golf Village →
12 mi away · pop. 26,077
Rent $2,299/mo · Income $117,212
Compare with St. Augustine →Moving to Nocatee →
15 mi away · pop. 27,442
Rent $3,500+/mo · Income $141,868
Compare with St. Augustine →Moving to Palm Valley →
20 mi away · pop. 19,796
Rent $1,856/mo · Income $116,625
Compare with St. Augustine →Moving to Fruit Cove →
23 mi away · pop. 35,877
Rent $2,336/mo · Income $141,863
Compare with St. Augustine →Not sure St. Augustine is the one?
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