Quick insights

Imagine spending a weekend exploring the serene Jacksonville Arboretum, riding your bike along the scenic Riverwalk with a friend or building sandcastles on the shores of Jacksonville Beach with your kids. The city provides many job prospects, particularly in sections like healthcare, finance and technology. As a first-time homebuyer embarking on this new chapter, Jacksonville’s welcoming neighborhoods and buzzing city life offer a nice balance excitement and comfort for different types of lifestyles.

Living in the city of Jacksonville

Jacksonville, located in northeastern Florida, is uniquely positioned along the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean. This location gives residents easy access to the riverfront and oceanfront, enhancing its appeal for outdoor activities and recreation. Jacksonville has a diverse population including a blend of young professionals, families and retirees. This mix contributes to the city’s welcoming community environment.

There are different family-friendly neighborhoods in Jacksonville featuring spacious homes, good schools, tree-lined streets, sports leagues, community picnics and recreational amenities.

Families with young kids may want to pay a visit to Avondale, Mandarin and Julington Creek. Riverside, San Marco and Brooklyn offer modern living spaces, trendy restaurants and proximity to downtown Jacksonville. These areas can make it an ideal location for professionals working in major business districts in the city center. Ponte Vedra Beach, The Villages of Seloy and Southside provide a serene coastal environment with golf courses, country clubs, upscale shopping and health facilities.

Each neighborhood offers distinct benefits and amenities tailored to various lifestyles and preferences, making Jacksonville a versatile city for people at different stages of life.

What to consider moving to Jacksonville

When buying a home and moving to Jacksonville, there are numerous factors you may want to consider before signing on the dotted line:

Pros and cons of living in Jacksonville

Living in Jacksonville offers a mix of advantages and disadvantages. Balancing the pros and cons is essential for first-time homebuyers when considering Jacksonville as a new place to call home.

Cost of living in Jacksonville

According to RentCafe, as of 2024, the cost of living in Jacksonville, Florida is 7% lower than the national average Footnote ²Opens overlay. The cost of transportation in Jacksonville is slightly lower than the national average. Public transit options like the JTA (Jacksonville Transportation Authority) can be relatively affordable. Healthcare costs will vary based on specific services and insurance coverage.

One way to manage monthly expenses is to look for homes with energy-efficient features like modern HVAC systems, good insulation and double-pane windows. All these features can help reduce your utility bills. You can also check out local programs that offer financial assistance or homebuyer assistance. Jacksonville offers resources through organizations such as the Jacksonville Housing Authority and community development programs.

In conclusion

Jacksonville can be a great option for homebuyers looking to purchase a home in this part of Florida. The city’s local economy is driven by growing industries such as healthcare and finance. The education system is comprehensive, with various public and private schools. Jacksonville offers plenty of events that focus on community engagement, bringing residents together such as the Jacksonville Fair, World of Nations Celebration and JaxParks Events.

Overall, Jacksonville offers a nice balance of economic opportunity, educational excellence and cultural enrichment, making it a desirable city for both first-time homebuyers, families and retirees.

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The Force is going to be strong in Jacksonville over this three-day weekend, with activities ranging from a bring-your-own car show to a country legend in concert on tap.

There's also the unveiling of an old movie studio that's being renovated in Arlington, a big hip-hop show and the symphony playing along as Luke obliterates the Death Star.

More things to do this month:Circuses, cowboys and concerts: 100 fun things to do in Jacksonville in January

Florida Men and monster trucks:25 fun things to do in Jacksonville in 2025

‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ in Concert

7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18, at Jacoby Symphony Hall. $35-$98.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

The Jacksonville Symphony plays the score while the first “Star Wars” film (or the fourth, depending on how you count) plays overhead. Info: jaxsymphony.org

Southeast Eurofest

10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine. Free.

Got a cool European car you’d like to show off? There’s no registration fee for this show, so you can just wax it and go. It’s free to check out as well, but admission to the museum is $15. Info: ccmstaug.com

Norman Studios opening

2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Norman Studios Museum. $50-$125.

Arlington’s Norman Studios Museum holds a gala opening for the Rita F. Reagan Set Building, with the Ritz Chamber Players performing the world premiere of James Weldon Johnson’s poem, “Saint Peter Relates an Incident of the Resurrection Day,” which has been set to music. Attendees are encouraged to dress to a 1910s/1920s theme. Info: normanstudios.org

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives

7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Florida Theatre. $55-$69.

If Marty Stuart's impeccable credentials (he played in Lester Flatt's band at age 13 and Johnny Cash's when he was 21) weren't good enough to earn him a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame, surely his hair would have. Info: floridatheatre.com

Kevin Gates and Gucci Mane

8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. $69-$199.

There must be something really special about this show, billed as an “MLK Celebration,” because it is the only concert that either of the headlining acts has on the calendar for the entire year. Info: ticketmaster.com

High-profile attorney Hank Coxe is representing Terrie Brady

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One day after the former president of Duval Teachers United was indicted and accused of conspiring to steal over $1 million, a high-profile attorney has provided a statement claiming she “accurately reported her compensation” to the federal government.

Attorney Hank Coxe said in a statement given to News4JAX:

For decades, Teresa Brady has been applauded as an advocate for our local teachers and quality education. Throughout her career with Duval Teachers United, Mrs. Brady accurately reported her compensation to the federal government in her tax returns. We are confident as we move forward, and Mrs. Brady appreciates the outpouring of support.

Hank Coxe, attorney for former DTU president Teresa (Terrie) Brady

RELATED: Longtime Duval teachers union president retires in wake of FBI, IRS investigation

It is currently unclear who is representing Ruby George, 81, the former executive vice president who was also indicted for multiple counts of fraud alongside Brady.

On Monday, the Department of Justice announced the unsealing of an indictment that accuses Brady and George of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, eight counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud, and three counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud.

Brady is also accused of two counts of money laundering. The two each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count, while Brady faces a maximum penalty of 10 years on each count of money laundering.

The former DTU president spent over 30 years with Duval Teachers United before retiring in 2023, spent time with the Democratic National Committee, and served as leader of the Florida and Duval County Democratic Party.

Ted Delegal, a lawyer specializing in employment law, explained how longtime employees can sometimes fly under the radar because they are given plenty of assumed trust.

“When folks have been in a position of trust for a long time, it is sometimes the case that some of the oversight may be more relaxed than it should be,” he said. “And it’s not uncommon to see problems arise with regard to payment processes.”

State Representative Dean Black told News4JAX that both former DTU employees deserve the maximum prison sentence if the allegations are confirmed, adding that their arrests are proof that newly passed transparency laws for unions are working.

“When I ran House Bill 1445 to require financial transparency of the unions to their members, they fought it tooth and nail,” Black said. “There were protests in the Capitol. They did not want that transparency, and I think now we know why.”

News4JAX also asked the community how the allegations against Brady and George impacted them and received a plethora of responses.

“I am hoping it’s all not true but if it is I’m wondering if I should still trust the union. Am I owed a refund?” one person wrote.

“So sad, she always said she was fighting for us and yet stealing at the same time. I paid my dues from 2004-2020,” another teacher wrote.

“I was a dues paying member of DTU for 20 years prior to my retirement in 2021. I served on the bargaining committee with Ms. Brady and Ms. George and thought I knew them pretty well from countless hours spent going over contracts and budgets, but honestly, had you told me that two of the folks on the committee were actively stealing money from the union, I sure wouldn’t have pegged the two of them as the ones. I’m in shock. After reading the indictment, I’m more shocked. You want to think they didn’t think they knew what they were doing was wrong, but not after reading the charges. Wow! Just wow,” another person wrote to News4JAX.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan also commented on the arrests, telling us “she hates to see it” before continuing to say that she knows very little about the allegations other than what she’s read in the news.

Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.

Following the arrival of a cold front on Sunday that could bring winter weather on Tuesday and Wednesday, temperatures in Jacksonville are expected to drop from the mid-60s on Sunday afternoon to below-freezing across parts of Northeast Florida early Monday morning, prompting the National Weather Service in Jacksonville to issue a Cold Weather Advisory and a Freeze Warning.

A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday, with wind chills as low as 19 degrees expected across much of Northeast Florida, including Nassau, Clay and Duval counties.

A Freeze Warning is in effect from 2 to 10 a.m. Monday, with sub-freezing temperatures as low as 29 expected in the same areas, the National Weather Service said in a Sunday morning briefing. A Freeze Watch was also issued for Monday evening into Tuesday morning.

What you should know:Freeze warning, cold advisory? Be familiar with these official winter weather terms

Florida winter weather forecast:'Significant' ice storm odds increasing | WeatherTiger

The cold weather led to the postponement of Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Jacksonville and the relocation of Monday's inauguration ceremonies of President Donald Trump to inside the Capitol building in Washington.

After feeling like winter on Monday and Tuesday morning, it could look like winter overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning as rain showers potentially change over to snow showers as temperatures again dip to freezing or below, the weather service said.

The chance for at least 1 inch of snow in Jacksonville is in the single digits, but those chances increase significantly in Southeast Georgia. The bigger issue for the Jacksonville area is a potential for freezing rain, which ranges from 20% in southeastern Duval County to 40% in far western Duval County, the weather service said.

Any snow or ice accumulations would be the first in Jacksonville in 35 years, when a pre-Christmas storm dropped nearly 2 inches of snow across much of Northeast Florida on Dec. 23, 1989, wreaking havoc for drivers on Jacksonville's roads and bridges.

Snow or white rain in Florida?A WeatherTiger reality check with a light dusting of hope

When and where:Some Florida locations could get 'snow showers' next week with Arctic blast

With winter weather in the forecast, the Florida Department of Transportation is preparing.

"With freezing temperatures and possible snow forecast in NW Florida next week, FDOT crews are preparing bridge deck sprayers, snow plows and other equipment and are ready to serve to keep Florida’s highway system safe and operational in all types of weather conditions," FDOT said on X.

Northeast Florida could finally see a bit of snow, freezing rain or sleet

According to Times-Union news partner First Coast News, on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, expect "widespread rain across all of our area, with very cold air already in place. Frigid morning temperatures, coupled with the precipitation will give some in our area a risk of wintry precipitation. This could cause issues on bridges and overpasses that freeze easier than roads, and seriously slow down commutes and trips to school."

How cold will it get in Jacksonville?

Here’s a look at temperatures in Jacksonville this week, according to AccuWeather’s Forecast on Sunday:

What are the record-low temperatures in Jacksonville?

According to NOAA weather data, the record low temperatures in Jacksonville this week are:

Has it snowed in Jacksonville?

According to NOAA weather data, it snowed in Jacksonville this week on the following days:

How cold will it get in Florida?

Here’s a look at temperatures across other parts of Florida, according to AccuWeather’s Forecast on Sunday:

Why is snow so rare in Florida?

The most basic answer is that subfreezing temperatures in Florida tend to be brought on by cold fronts, which generally produce dry air.

Florida’s best chance of seeing snow happens when a storm pulls in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico while cold air is being pushed from the north. Of course, if cold air is moving south, it’s likely pushing that moisture away from Florida, hence the conundrum.

The more complicated reason snow is rare in Florida is almost everything about Florida, from its geographical features to its proximity to the equator, discourages the conditions needed for snow.

Florida’s warm temperatures are the first problem. The second issue is that Florida, the Sunshine State, gets a lot of sunlight because of how close it is to the equator. That sunlight and warmer temperatures tend to keep sustained cold air at bay, preventing it from amassing in quantities for snow to form.

Florida is also a pretty flat state, and its highest point, Britton Hill, is only about 345 feet above sea level. That doesn’t give cold air a lot of places to hang out.

Lastly, there’s the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf is a relatively warm body of water, and it acts as a large temperature moderator for Florida.

What’s needed for snow to form?

The conditions required to produce snow are typically generalized. Most people know that it needs to be at or below 32 degrees, which is considered the threshold for water to freeze. That's not the only condition where snow can form, however.

Snow can still form even in temperatures as high as 33.8 degrees. There are occasions when a higher layer of atmosphere is slightly above freezing where the snowflake might start to melt as it passes through that layer but can still make it to the ground as snow.

Another special case is referred to as the "wet bulb" effect. The wet bulb temperature is the temperature air reaches when water evaporates into it. Snow can still manage to form if the height where the wet bulb temperature reaches freezing is less than 1,500 above the ground.

In both special circumstances, the snow will be wetter and stickier than traditional fluffy and dry snow.

Brandon Girod of the Pensacola News Journal contributed to this report.

Florida Prepares freezing rain and possibility of snow

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As temperatures drop and winter weather looms, North Florida communities are gearing up for what could be a historic event. Emergency management teams across the state are already making preparations, holding conference calls and mapping out responses to the freezing rain, ice, and even snow that could be on the way.

RELATED: The coldest air of the winter is moving in next week. Will the Georgia snow reach Florida? | Jacksonville MLK Day parade postponed due to incoming cold weather

Florida residents are no strangers to hurricanes and tropical storms, but wintry weather is a rarity. Emergency officials say their approach remains the same: planning for the worst.

“We’ve been communicating and meeting with all our stakeholders,” said Percy Golden, deputy chief of emergency preparedness for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. “The process doesn’t change. The players may change, but the planning process doesn’t.”

POLL: Flurries and ice could be a reality in Northeast Florida. How do you feel about that?

Golden noted that Jacksonville’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is using its hurricane-season communication methods to prepare for icy roads, bridge closures, and other winter hazards.

If temperatures drop below freezing on Sunday night, Jacksonville plans to open its warming center. Emergency officials are also working with the Florida Highway Patrol to monitor bridges, which could be closed if conditions become unsafe.

Decisions about school closures will rest with Duval County Superintendent Christopher Bernier, officials said.

In neighboring St. Johns County, emergency management leaders are also preparing. Kelly Wilson, deputy director of emergency management, said the EOC could activate if needed, although the effects are expected to be short-lived.

“The good news is, if winter weather does come, it’s likely to last just a day,” Wilson said. “We’ll stay in close contact with our partners and make decisions as necessary.”

Officials in Georgia are facing unique challenges, particularly in Ware County, where unpaved roads could become hazardous. Local leaders are expected to make decisions about school closures closer to the weekend or on Monday, which is a holiday.

Emergency officials in Nassau County are discussing whether to increase law enforcement staffing to handle potential weather-related crashes. With Monday marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day, officials are urging residents to prepare now and stay informed as the situation develops.

Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.