Garden City vs Oceanway
Two Duval communities, compared on the numbers that decide it — price, pace, and supply — from live MLS data as of 2026-10-03.
| Metric | Garden City | Oceanway |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $247K | $216K |
| Price per sq ft | $184 | $181 |
| Avg days on market | 125 days | 99 days |
| Months of supply | 3.8 mo | 3.8 mo |
| Market | Buyer-Leaning Market | Balanced Market |
| 1-year price change | +0% | -1% |
| Recent closings | 35 | 32 |
The verdict
Garden City carries the higher median price — about 14% above Oceanway. Homes in Oceanway sell faster (99 days on market vs 125).
Where each one is
Garden City and Oceanway are about 5 miles apart (straight-line, center to center) and share Duval County.
| Garden City | Oceanway | |
|---|---|---|
| County | Duval County, FL | Duval County, FL |
| City / area | Jacksonville | Jacksonville |
| ZIP | 32218 | 32218 |
| Straight-line to downtown Jacksonville | 8 mi | 10 mi |
| Nearest Atlantic beach | 17 mi, Amelia Island (south end) | 12 mi, Amelia Island (south end) |
| FEMA flood zones (sampled parcels) | all 23 sampled homes outside a flood zone | 96% of 26 homes outside a flood zone (Zone X) |
Distances are straight-line; driving distance is usually 15 to 30 percent more. Flood-zone shares come from FEMA flood maps matched to sampled parcels; always check the exact address before you close.
What is for sale today
| Garden City | Oceanway | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes for sale now | 11 | 10 |
| Under contract | 2 | 6 |
| Asking prices today | $190K to $800K | $175K to $3.7M |
| Listed in the last 7 days | 6 | 1 |
| Property types listed | Single Family Residence | Single Family Residence |
Live MLS counts, refreshed with every listing pull. Browse them: Garden City homes for sale · Oceanway homes for sale.
The homes themselves
| Garden City | Oceanway | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes (parcels) | 82 | 157 |
| Built | 1936–2024 (median 1989) | 1920–2022 (median 1990) |
| Typical living area | 1,348 sq ft | 1,475 sq ft |
| Homesteaded (owner-occupied) share | 39% | 52% |
| Vacant lots | 18 | 5 |
Housing-stock figures from the Florida Department of Revenue 2025 assessment roll (public records).
Price history, year by year
| Year | Garden City median | Oceanway median |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $40K (6 sales) | $48K (8 sales) |
| 2014 | $51K (3 sales) | $39K (11 sales) |
| 2015 | $117K (8 sales) | $124K (13 sales) |
| 2016 | $36K (9 sales) | $100K (11 sales) |
| 2017 | $84K (10 sales) | $123K (17 sales) |
| 2018 | $102K (16 sales) | $157K (17 sales) |
| 2019 | $134K (10 sales) | $148K (18 sales) |
| 2020 | $154K (16 sales) | $172K (13 sales) |
| 2021 | $160K (15 sales) | $172K (12 sales) |
| 2022 | $225K (18 sales) | $255K (24 sales) |
| 2023 | $234K (26 sales) | $212K (6 sales) |
| 2024 | $240K (30 sales) | $210K (12 sales) |
| 2025 | $247K (20 sales) | $198K (6 sales) |
| 2026 | $241K (34 sales) | $258K (5 sales) |
Since 2012, Garden City's median sale price is +498% and Oceanway's is +433% — Garden City has appreciated faster over that stretch.
How each one trades
| Garden City | Oceanway | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale-to-original-list | 97.8% | 99.4% |
| New-construction share of sales | 56% | 0% |
| Typical sold home | 1,209 sq ft | 1,393 sq ft |
| Momentum market-heat score | 50 (normal) | 83 (hot) |
Last 12 months of recorded closings; sale-to-original-list is the share of the first asking price sellers actually got.
Schools the listings are zoned for
| Garden City | Oceanway | |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Highlands | Oceanway |
| Middle | Oceanway | Oceanway |
| High school | First Coast | First Coast |
The school most often recorded on each community's MLS listings. Always confirm a specific address with the district.
Which one fits
On budget alone, Oceanway is the lower entry point (median $216K vs $247K). Buyers who want newer construction (fewer near-term roof, HVAC and re-plumb items, and easier insurance quotes in Florida) will find it in Oceanway; Garden City trades that for a more established street and, typically, larger lots. Sellers get a faster sale in Oceanway (99 days on market on average); buyers get more negotiating room where homes sit longer.
Neither number set decides it: drive both on a weekday evening, check the HOA documents and the flood zone for the exact street, and price the insurance before you write an offer. A Momentum agent who works both communities can pull the comparable sales for any two specific homes.
Questions people ask
Is Garden City more expensive than Oceanway?
Yes, on recent sales: the median sale price in Garden City is $247,000 versus $216,000 in Oceanway, about 14% higher.
How far apart are Garden City and Oceanway?
About 5 miles straight-line, center to center, both in Duval County; driving distance is usually 15 to 30 percent more.
Which has newer homes, Garden City or Oceanway?
Oceanway: its homes were built 1920–2022 with a median year of 1990, versus a median of 1989 in Garden City (Florida DOR assessment roll).
Which has appreciated more, Garden City or Oceanway?
From 2012 to 2026 the median sale price rose 498% in Garden City and 433% in Oceanway (recorded MLS closings by calendar year).
Where do sellers get closer to asking price?
Oceanway — sellers there received 99.4% of the original list price over the last 12 months versus 97.8% in Garden City.
What high schools serve Garden City and Oceanway?
Listings in Garden City most often report First Coast; listings in Oceanway report First Coast. Zoning is set by the district and can change - verify by address.
Go deeper on each: Garden City homes, photos & schools · Oceanway homes, photos & schools
Figures are aggregates from realMLS / DBAAR, updated regularly. Thinking about either? Talk to Momentum Realty.