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A wooden dock stretching into calm river water at sunset, an everyday view along the St. Johns in Green Cove Springs.

Clay County · Green Cove Springs · 32043

Green Cove Springs

Green Cove Springs is the county seat of Clay County, sitting on the west bank of the St. Johns River about 28 miles south of downtown Jacksonville, and is named for a warm mineral spring that feeds a public swimming pool at Spring Park before flowing into the river. The city grew 41.7% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses (6,908 to 9,786 residents), and the surrounding 32043 area is adding several large master-planned communities including Magnolia West, Cross Creek, and Rookery. The First Coast Expressway (SR 23) toll road now passes just west and south of the city, with the final Clay County segment (US 17 to Leonard C. Taylor Parkway) opened June 29, 2026.

Median sale

$349,100

as of 2026-08

CDD

Some

Roughly $1,150-$2,310 per year in Rookery for FY 2025-26 (townhome $1,154.11; single-family $2,308.22 total, of which $1,808.22 is Series 2024 debt service and $500 is O&M); amounts vary by community, phase, and lot size/yr typical

School district

Clay County District Schools

Find zoned schools ↗

To downtown

39 min

typical off-peak

Housing stock

The historic core dates to the 1880s-1920s spa/tourism era with additional development during World War II naval activity; scattered mid-century and later homes line US 17 and the older city grid. Newer stock includes Magnolia West (homes built roughly 2007-2018, about 1,542-2,644 sq ft, single-family). Post-2015 construction is dominated by D.R. Horton: Cross Creek (970 acres, 998 planned lots in widths of 40, 50, 60, and 70 feet; sales began January 2019) and Rookery (1,919 planned units including single-family homes of about 1,618-2,499 sq ft plus townhomes; 615 lots platted as of the FY 2025-26 CDD budget). Rural unincorporated parcels in 32043 include larger acreage lots.

Flood zones

Per the City of Green Cove Springs Conservation Element, the 100-year floodplain generally follows the edges of the city along the St. Johns River on the east border and north then west along the city's border with Governors Creek; the 500-year floodplain is predominantly in the lower reaches of the city around SR 16 and along Governors Creek and the St. Johns River. Clay County uses Zones X (minimal hazard, insurance generally not required), shaded X (0.2% annual chance), and A/AE (1% annual chance, insurance required for mortgaged properties); most inland subdivisions sit in X zones while river- and creek-adjacent parcels can be A/AE. FEMA is updating Clay County's Flood Insurance Rate Maps, with new maps expected to take effect in spring 2027, so zone designations may change. Sources: https://www.greencovesprings.com/DocumentCenter/View/160/5---Conservation-PDF ; https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2025/09/04/fema-is-updating-clay-countys-flood-insurance-rate-maps-heres-how-to-see-if-youre-affected/

Insurance factors

Green Cove Springs is an inland location roughly 25-30 road miles from the Atlantic coast, west of the St. Johns River. Citizens Property Insurance requires 4-point inspections (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roof) for properties more than 20 years old, which affects the historic core and early-2000s stock but not most 2015+ builds. Shingle and other soft roofs older than 25 years (tile/slate/metal older than 50) need documentation of at least five years of remaining useful life, otherwise proof of full roof replacement is required before a policy is written. Wind mitigation inspections document features (roof attachment, roof shape, opening protection) that qualify for premium discounts; newer construction built to current Florida Building Code typically documents more of these features. Sources: https://www.citizensfla.com/inspections

CDD and HOA

Verified districts: Magnolia West CDD (established under Ch. 190 F.S.; public documentation hosted by the City of Green Cove Springs), Rookery CDD (FY 2025-26 adopted budget levies debt service and O&M assessments on 615 platted lots of 1,919 planned units, collected on the Clay County tax bill), and Cross Creek CDD (fiscal year Oct 1-Sep 30; assessment schedules published in its adopted budgets; infrastructure costs of $29.8 million were reported at launch as an estimated $29,935 master special assessment per property, paid via annual debt service plus O&M assessments). Cross Creek North CDD also operates in the area. CDD assessments appear as non-ad valorem line items on the Clay County tax bill. Sources: https://www.greencovesprings.com/211/Magnolia-West-CDD-Public-Documentation ; https://campussuite-storage.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/1559258/66b3fe62-1af5-11f0-8837-0a58a9feac02/2989031/d795f834-7238-11f0-8ef5-0ed31cca5a63/file/2025-08-12%20-%20Rookery%20CDD%20-%20Final%20Agenda.pdf ; https://crosscreekcdd.org/finances/ ; https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2019/jan/02/d-r-horton-building-cross-creek-in-clay-county/

Newer D.R. Horton communities pair a low HOA with a CDD: Rookery's HOA dues are approximately $100 per year, with the pool, fitness center, dog park, playground, and pickleball courts funded through the CDD. Magnolia West listings show association fees in the tens of dollars per month range. Older in-town blocks and rural unincorporated parcels commonly have no HOA. Verify dues and CDD line items on the Clay County tax bill for any specific parcel.

Short-term rentals

Short-term rentals operate in Green Cove Springs and Clay County under Florida's state framework: a Florida DBPR vacation rental license, state sales tax registration, and compliance with smoke/CO detector and pool safety standards are required, plus a one-hour annual human trafficking training for owners/managers. Clay County requires a local business tax registration and Tourist Development Tax registration through the county Tax Collector. The city follows state and county frameworks; zoning compliance for the specific parcel should be verified with the city or county before operating. Sources: https://www.strprofitmap.com/regulations/FL/green-cove-springs

Getting around

US 17 runs through the center of town (Orange Avenue), leading 28 miles north to downtown Jacksonville and 26 miles south to Palatka. SR 16 connects west toward Starke and east across the St. Johns River toward St. Augustine (about 25 miles). The First Coast Expressway (SR 23), a tolled bypass that will ultimately run about 46 miles connecting I-10 to I-95, passes west and south of the city: an 18-mile Clay County stretch from SR 21 to US 17 opened in August 2025, and the segment from US 17 to Leonard C. Taylor Parkway near the Shands Bridge opened June 29, 2026. The Shands Bridge replacement — a 9,300-foot, $595 million span over the St. Johns River, 65 feet tall with two 12-foot lanes each way and a shared-use path — is under construction with completion targeted for 2030, when the remaining St. Johns County segments to I-95 are also scheduled to finish.

What homes actually sold for

Recorded sales in Green Cove Springs from county public records, last 12 months. These are closed prices, not asking prices.

Sales recorded

708

Median price

$349,100

Median $/sqft

$177

AddressSoldPriceBd/BaSqftBuilt
3410 Shinnecock LnMay 2026$660,000—/—2,7862016
3582 Oglebay DrMay 2026$490,000—/—2,7922014
3808 Falcon Crest DrMay 2026$282,000—/—1,4532007
2227 Crystal Cove DrMay 2026$439,500—/—1,8562016
777 Arthur Moore DrMay 2026$811,800—/—3,7091983
2660 Creek Ridge DrMay 2026$265,000—/—1,4532005
3039 Grand Finale St.May 2026$374,000—/—2,1772025
3406 Bella Sera LnMay 2026$320,000—/—1,6882024
3470 Bella Sera LnMay 2026$305,000—/—1,6682024
3310 Mission Oak PlMay 2026$329,900—/—1,5362025

Source: county property appraiser records (public). Sales flagged by the county as non-arm's-length are excluded.

Schools listings here report

Assigned schools as stated on current MLS listings in this area — names only. Verify zoning with the district; attendance boundaries change.

Elementary

  • Charles E. Bennett
  • Clay Hill
  • James A. Long
  • Lake Asbury
  • Middleburg
  • Paterson
  • Rideout
  • Shadowlawn
  • Spring Park

Middle

  • Green Cove Springs
  • Lake Asbury

High school

  • Clay
  • Middleburg
  • Palatka

Before you make an offer here

  • Is this parcel in FEMA Zone X or A/AE, and will the new Clay County flood maps (expected effective spring 2027) change its designation?
  • What CDD debt service and O&M assessments appear on this home's Clay County tax bill, and how many years remain on the bonds?
  • What are the toll costs on SR 23 for a daily commute versus the free US 17 route?
  • For homes over 20 years old, will the roof pass a 4-point inspection, and what wind mitigation credits does the home qualify for?
  • Is the property on city utilities or well and septic, and is it inside city limits or unincorporated Clay County?
  • How will construction traffic and the 2030 completion of the Shands Bridge replacement affect access to St. Johns County and I-95?

Sources

Updated 2026-09-02. Facts change — verify anything material before you rely on it.