Garden City vs Oceanway
Two Duval communities, compared on the numbers that decide it — price, pace, and supply — from live MLS data as of 2026-11-12.
| Metric | Garden City | Oceanway |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $243K | $258K |
| Price per sq ft | $178 | $186 |
| Avg days on market | 79 days | 116 days |
| Months of supply | 4.8 mo | 8.0 mo |
| Market | Buyer-Leaning Market | Buyer's Market |
| 1-year price change | +0% | -1% |
| Recent closings | 30 | 12 |
The verdict
Oceanway carries the higher median price — about 6% above Garden City. Homes in Garden City sell faster (79 days on market vs 116). Garden City is the tighter market on inventory (4.8 months of supply).
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 25 sampled homes outside a flood zone | 95% of 20 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 | 12 | 8 |
| Under contract | 4 | 4 |
| Asking prices today | $190K to $775K | $175K to $3.6M |
| Listed in the last 7 days | 8 | 0 |
| 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) | 168 | 121 |
| Built | 1900–2024 (median 1986) | 1920–2019 (median 1991) |
| Typical living area | 1,479 sq ft | 1,451 sq ft |
| Homesteaded (owner-occupied) share | 41% | 54% |
| Vacant lots | 33 | 3 |
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 | $57K (4 sales) | $55K (7 sales) |
| 2013 | $61K (3 sales) | $50K (9 sales) |
| 2015 | $117K (8 sales) | $120K (12 sales) |
| 2016 | $37K (10 sales) | $89K (13 sales) |
| 2017 | $89K (9 sales) | $123K (15 sales) |
| 2018 | $88K (17 sales) | $158K (18 sales) |
| 2019 | $114K (13 sales) | $131K (16 sales) |
| 2020 | $156K (12 sales) | $172K (13 sales) |
| 2021 | $160K (17 sales) | $170K (13 sales) |
| 2022 | $232K (18 sales) | $260K (23 sales) |
| 2023 | $230K (27 sales) | $195K (7 sales) |
| 2024 | $240K (32 sales) | $210K (10 sales) |
| 2025 | $247K (22 sales) | $199K (7 sales) |
| 2026 | $240K (29 sales) | $250K (6 sales) |
Since 2012, Garden City's median sale price is +323% and Oceanway's is +355% — Oceanway has appreciated faster over that stretch.
How each one trades
| Garden City | Oceanway | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale-to-original-list | 98.6% | 99.0% |
| New-construction share of sales | 55% | 0% |
| Typical sold home | 1,217 sq ft | 1,387 sq ft |
| Momentum market-heat score | 48 (normal) | 66 (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.
Momentum Realty agents have closed 1 home in Garden City and 0 in Oceanway (brokerage records, both sides counted once). Find an agent who works Garden City · Oceanway.
Which one fits
On budget alone, Garden City is the lower entry point (median $243K vs $258K). 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 Garden City (79 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 Oceanway more expensive than Garden City?
Yes, on recent sales: the median sale price in Oceanway is $258,000 versus $243,000 in Garden City, about 6% 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 1920–2019 with a median year of 1991, versus a median of 1986 in Garden City (Florida DOR assessment roll).
Which has appreciated more, Garden City or Oceanway?
From 2012 to 2026 the median sale price rose 323% in Garden City and 355% in Oceanway (recorded MLS closings by calendar year).
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.