Sometime this month, the U.S. Census Bureau expects Florida to surpass New York in population, becoming the nation’s third most-populous state after California and Texas. The population boost continues the tremendous growth Florida has seen in the past three decades, as more and more residents from other regions flock to the Sunshine State. So prevalent has this trend become that some states are losing thousands of residents each year to Florida. In 2011, nearly 60,000 New Yorkers became permanent Florida residents.
And they’re not all retirees. Much of Florida’s population growth, in fact, has been fueled by both individual workers and entire corporations relocating to the south. Many are drawn by the Sunshine State’s beautiful weather – and even more favorable tax climate – and aided by a concerted effort by state officials to lure new businesses. Florida is fast becoming the place to find good-paying jobs with Fortune 500 companies and high-growth industries.
Nationally Ranked
The Jacksonville area in particular has garnered national attention as a desirable work-relocation locale. In April 2013, Forbes magazine named Jacksonville the third best city in America for finding a job. Money magazine, meanwhile, ranked St. Johns County fifth on its national “Where the Jobs Are” list, noting that the county’s towns of Fruit Cove, St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra enjoyed a 12.1 percent job growth from 2010 to 2012:
“St. Johns County’s vitals are strong,” Money reported. “It’s the healthiest county in Florida and leads the state in public education. Plus, the weather’s gorgeous year-round. No wonder highly educated talent is being wooed there in droves.”
A Place to Call Home
Workers relocating to the Jacksonville area from northern cities are often pleasantly surprised to learn just how much house they can get for their money. St. Johns County is home to a number of master-planned communities offering brand new, luxury homes at a fraction of the cost of similar homes up north.
In the master-planned community of Nocatee, relocating workers will find a wide selection of luxury homes from a number of well-respected builders. Homes in the gated upscale Coastal Oaks neighborhood, for example, begin in the $300s and include access to a host of private neighborhood amenities, including a clubhouse, pool, fitness center, athletic courts and more. Coastal Oaks residents also have access to the full array of Nocatee amenities – including Splash Water Park, fitness center and nature trails – and enjoy the convenience of being ten minutes from Florida’s world-renowned beaches.
“Nocatee’s location offers relocating workers easy access to St. Johns County employment as well as the many job opportunities available in Jacksonville and St. Augustine,” said Richard Ray, president of The PARC Group, the community’s developer. “But it’s really the Nocatee lifestyle that wins them over.”
For more information on relocating to Nocatee, visit the Nocatee Welcome Center or call 1-800-NOCATEE.