Where Jacksonville's new residents come from.

The headline pattern

Jacksonville has been one of the top 10 net-positive migration metros in America for five consecutive years. The Jacksonville metro added approximately 25,000-30,000 net new residents annually between 2020 and 2024, with growth concentrated in St. Johns County and northern Duval.

Net migration into the area has slowed from the post-COVID peak but remains positive. The 2026 trajectory suggests roughly 18,000-22,000 net new residents for the metro this year.

Where movers come from

The top origin states for Jacksonville movers (per IRS migration data and United Van Lines studies) are New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, and Georgia. Within the Southeast, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Tampa also send meaningful numbers of relocating households.

The Northeast-to-Florida flow has slowed since 2022 as remote work normalizes and many of the most-motivated movers have already relocated. The California and Illinois flows have remained relatively steady, driven by cost-of-living and tax differentials rather than weather or remote-work flexibility.

Within Florida, Jacksonville also attracts intra-state migration from Miami, Tampa, and Orlando. Households looking for lower density and lower housing costs but wanting to stay in Florida often land in the Jacksonville metro.

Where they settle inside Jacksonville

Relocating households cluster in specific submarkets based on their priorities.

St. Johns County (especially Nocatee and Ponte Vedra) attracts the most relocating families with school-age children. The school district ranking is the primary draw.

The Beaches (Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach) attract relocating households prioritizing lifestyle and coastal access. Higher concentration of remote workers.

Mayo Clinic corridor (Nocatee, southern Ponte Vedra, southern Jacksonville Beach) attracts healthcare professionals relocating for Mayo employment.

Mandarin and Fleming Island attract relocating families seeking better schools at lower price points than St. Johns County or the beaches.

Urban core (Riverside, Avondale, San Marco) attracts younger relocating professionals and empty-nesters wanting walkable urban living without major-metro density.

Why migration slowed but stayed positive

The 2020-2022 surge into Florida was driven by three factors: remote-work flexibility, low mortgage rates, and pandemic-related relocations. All three peaked and faded.

Migration since 2023 has been driven by more durable factors: tax differentials (no state income tax), school district reputation (St. Johns County), and housing cost differentials versus origin metros. These factors persist regardless of remote work or interest rates, which is why Jacksonville migration remains positive even as the headline numbers cool.

What it means for home values

Positive net migration supports housing demand. Migration alone does not drive appreciation in any given year (inventory, rates, and economic factors matter more in the short term). But over 5-10 year horizons, consistent positive migration creates structural demand that supports prices.

The 2026 forecast: continued positive migration, moderating from peak, concentrated in St. Johns County and the beaches. Inland Duval and Clay County will see weaker migration-driven appreciation than the high-amenity submarkets.