The Complete Highlands Guide. (2026)

Executive Summary

Highlands is an established neighborhood on Jacksonville's Northside, dating to the 1950s, with affordable single-family homes and quick access to the airport, the River City Marketplace, and I-95.

Recent third-party data put the median around $225,000 over the trailing year, with a reading near $244,000 in late 2025, and most homes running from the $150,000s into the $300,000s. The affordability and access are the draw.

The draw is one of the more affordable established neighborhoods on the Northside with quick airport and highway access. The trade-offs are older homes and systems, a higher share of renters, and the usual diligence on roofs and insurance.

Quick Facts

Community Overview & History

An established Northside neighborhood

Highlands sits on Jacksonville's Northside near the airport and the I-95 corridor, an established neighborhood that dates to 1953 and has filled in over the decades. It is one of the Northside's more affordable established areas.

Affordable single-family homes

The housing stock is mostly affordable single-family homes on established lots, with some newer construction mixed in, which draws first-time buyers, investors, and value-focused households.

The Homes

Highlands is an established single-family neighborhood, so the variation is mostly in home age, condition, and which section a home sits in.

Established single-family homes

Most homes are single-family houses from the 1950s onward on standard lots, at affordable prices, many updated over the years.

Newer homes

Some newer homes mix into the area at the higher end of the range, offering more recent construction in an established setting.

Real Estate Market

Highlands is a value Northside neighborhood. Recent third-party data put the median around $225,000 over the trailing year, with a reading near $244,000 in late 2025, and most homes from the $150,000s into the $300,000s.

For county context, the NEFAR April 2026 report put the Duval County median single-family price at about $332,500, a county-wide figure. Highlands prices well below that, which is its draw for value and first-time buyers.

Who Lives Here

Highlands draws first-time buyers, investors, and value-focused households who want an affordable established neighborhood with quick airport and highway access. The area has a higher share of renters than many neighborhoods.

Schools

Highlands is served by Duval County Public Schools. In Duval the strongest schools are a mix of zoned neighborhood schools and application magnets, and middle and high assignments are not reliable from a community name alone. Confirm the current zoning for a specific address with the district locator at duvalschools.org before you buy. See the best schools in Duval County guide for the rankings and how zones affect prices.

Amenities & Lifestyle

Highlands is an established residential neighborhood rather than an amenity community, and its appeal is the affordability and the Northside access.

Central Northside location

The area sits near the airport, the River City Marketplace, and I-95, putting the northern job centers and everyday shopping within a short drive.

Everyday convenience

The Lem Turner and Dunn Avenue corridors and the River City Marketplace put grocery, big-box, and dining minutes from the neighborhood.

HOA, CDD & Costs

Most of Highlands is older streets without a mandatory homeowners association, which keeps the carrying cost low. Confirm whether a specific property has any HOA dues.

Insurance is the cost to confirm because much of the housing stock is older. Roof age and the systems matter, so confirm the roof age and the flood zone and get quotes early for any specific home.

Commute Analysis

The Northside location favors the airport, the port, and the River City Marketplace over the beaches and the Town Center. Test your specific commute, since the Northside corridors and the I-95 interchange carry traffic at peak hours.

Shopping & Dining

The River City Marketplace anchors everyday shopping nearby with grocery, big-box, and dining, and the Lem Turner and Dunn Avenue corridors add more retail minutes from the neighborhood.

Pros and Cons

Highlands vs. Comparable Communities

Hidden Things Buyers Should Know

Look at the specific section and street

Highlands spans a range of conditions and a mix of owners and renters. Look at the specific section and the recent comparable sales rather than the area average.

Watch the roof and the systems

On the older homes, confirm the roof age and the systems, since they drive both the insurance quote and the near-term maintenance.

Momentum Expert Insight

Selling a Home in Highlands

If you are thinking about selling in Highlands, the right list price comes from the recent comparable sales in this specific community, not an automated estimate. Pricing to the home and the current Highlands inventory is what earns the strongest offer in the fewest days on market.

Across the wider Jacksonville metro, Momentum's listings have run a 97.98 percent sold-to-list ratio and 64 days on market for our agents, against a market average closer to 96.73 percent and 72 days, year to date. A Highlands listing specialist will give you a true home value from real comparable sales and a pricing strategy built for the current market. Start with a no-obligation home value request below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Reading

If you are researching Highlands, you are likely also weighing these other Northside neighborhoods and resources.