Top 10 Best Neighborhoods for Renters in Jacksonville, FL

Are you considering renting an apartment in Jacksonville, FL? Or perhaps you’re already enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of this sunny city but you’re prospecting relocating to another neighborhood. Here are the best neighborhoods for renters in Jacksonville: Mandarin, Baymeadows, Bartram Park, Riverview, Downtown, Riverside, Southside, Brentwood, Deerwood, Highlands.

So, you decided to move to Jacksonville. Congratulations on a great choice! Jacksonville is a wonderful place to live for renters, no matter what stage of life you are in. This Atlantic shore city offers its residents a great balance between cost of living and quality of life. Renting is a common approach when you first move to a new location and, in the case of this Florida city, it is also a great decision. When looking at apartments in Jacksonville, renters have many options. To make your search easier, here’s a list of the 10 best neighborhoods in Jacksonville.

Mandarin

Nestled at the southernmost tip of Jacksonville, the Mandarin neighborhood beckons to renters with its enchanting allure. Derived from the mandarin orange, the area is filled with natural beauties, described by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, as a “tropical paradise.” Today, this is the place to go and embrace the renter lifestyle and enjoy shopping, riverfront activities and historical sites. Mandarin is known for its magnificent oak trees and the Spanish moss that drapes them. So, if you’re considering moving to Jacksonville, make sure to check out this neighborhood.

Baymeadows

Baymeadows is considered one of the safest areas among the best neighborhoods for renters in Jacksonville. The urban feel of the neighborhood offers its residents a great place to live in while still being close to the downtown area. The neighborhood is filled with families and young professionals, and most of them opt for renting.

Bartram Park

One of the fastest growing areas in all of northeast Florida, Bartram Park is the place to be if you are a renter. With residential buildings constantly hitting the market, commercial spaces and offices are all developing simultaneously to make this neighborhood “Jacksonville’s Southern Gateway.” The neighborhood is home to the Julington-Durbin Creek Preserve, which offers the opportunity of exploring the Florida flora and wildlife through hiking, biking, kayaking and picnicking, to name a few. So many reasons to get out of your rental apartment, move your body and get some fresh air.

Riverview

This northside area was originally meant to become Jacksonville’s most valuable and desirable suburb. Riverview has been designed to be walkable, comfortable and the perfect place for renters to live in. This diverse, multi-ethnic neighborhood is considered to mostly house lower- to middle-income families, since it’s a more affordable area among the best neighborhoods in Jacksonville. Just one of the many good reasons to search for an apartment for rent here.

Downtown

Naturally, every renter wants to live in the heart of Jacksonville, a particularly popular place for young professionals. From skyscrapers to St. Johns River and the financial district, Downtown Jacksonville is a bustling area from early morning until late at night. The beaches are also a few minutes away, so when you want to get away from the busy streets and your hot apartment, you can always hop in your car for a quick escape. A popular area for renters, especially those working at one of the Fortune 500 companies with offices here.

Riverside

Riverside is the neighborhood for history and art-loving renters looking for unique experiences when it comes to anything from shopping to dinning to culture. One of the oldest and coolest among the best neighborhoods in Jacksonville, it was also voted one of the top 10 great neighborhoods in the U.S. due to its unique mix of history, charm, cultural diversity and modern design. If you’re looking for inspiring reasons to get out of your apartment, make sure to also check out the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, as well as the local arts market that fills the streets every Saturday. The neighborhood is a popular living choice for the younger generation, and while the river features million-dollar waterfront homes and high-end apartment buildings, the feel of Riverside is that of a strong local, urban community that renters will appreciate.

Southside

A mostly residential neighborhood, filled with history and nature, Southside offers some of the most beautiful views in Jacksonville. However, it doesn’t lack things to do as it features the bustling St. Johns Town Center, which offers everything from office, retail, dining and shopping all in one place. For fashionable renters, there are other shopping centers in the area, including the elegant Avenues Mall. With everything that you may need nearby as well as outdoor activities and historical sites, the Southside is a great place for renters of all ages.

Brentwood

If you’re looking to raise a family in one of the best neighborhoods for renters in Jacksonville, Brentwood is perfect, known as a cozy, safe place. The community is very well-established and homes are reasonably priced, both when it comes to buying and renting. The neighborhood also prides itself with some great schools.

Deerwood

Deerwood is one of the top neighborhoods in the area and a solid choice for renters looking for a more upscale lifestyle. Most of the residential properties in the neighborhood were built after the year 2000. Deerwood leans more towards middle to high class, with extremely low crime rates and some ethnic diversity including Asian, Irish, Italian and German descent. Usually, renters here spend between 15 to 30 minutes commuting to work one-way.

Highlands

Mostly made up of residential properties best for small to mid-sized families, Highlands is a great neighborhood featuring cozy homes and rental properties. The area is quite diverse, with Spanish and Italian being the second most common spoken languages besides English. The neighborhood is designed to be walkable for the most part. However, getting to work may often require some other means of transportation.