Trying to choose between Durbin Crossing and Nocatee for your first home in St. Johns County? You’re not alone. Both communities offer strong amenities, access to major roads, and a wide mix of homes that work for young families and relocating buyers. In this guide, you’ll see a side‑by‑side comparison of prices, home types, amenities, schools, carrying costs, and what’s coming next in the corridor. By the end, you’ll know how to match each community’s strengths to your budget and lifestyle. Let’s dive in.
Quick take: two great options, different scales
Durbin Crossing is a mature, master‑planned neighborhood with two large CDD‑operated amenity centers, established streetscapes, and mostly resale homes. As of an Oct 2025 market snapshot, the median sale price is about $557,500, with some townhome resales pricing below single‑family medians.
Nocatee is a larger, multi‑village master plan with an active Town Center, multiple resident water parks, and miles of trails. As of Oct 2025, overall medians trend higher around $670k, but first‑time buyers often enter through townhome and West End or Woodland Park neighborhoods that start in the high $300ks to low $400ks.
Prices and entry points
If affordability is your first filter, start here. Durbin Crossing’s resale‑driven market often provides a lower entry price for single‑family homes compared with many Nocatee villages. You’ll also find townhome resales that can help you lower the initial down payment.
In Nocatee, overall medians sit higher, but the community was intentionally planned with entry products. Realistic first‑time options include townhomes and select West End or Woodland Park neighborhoods near the Town Center. If you want new construction, compare those new‑home options with similar resale townhomes to see which delivers the best payment and warranty mix.
Amenities and lifestyle
Durbin Crossing centers on two community amenity hubs with family pools, a junior Olympic pool, fitness facilities, courts, fields, and programming. It’s a neighborhood‑scale lifestyle that many first‑time buyers find easy to use day to day. You can preview the amenity set on the community site for Durbin Crossing amenities and community details.
Nocatee’s amenity platform is broader in both scale and variety. Residents enjoy multiple parks, miles of trails, fitness and swim clubs, and signature spots like the Splash and Spray Water Parks. The Nocatee lifestyle overview and Town Center pages show how retail, medical, and recreation are woven together.
Schools and zoning changes
Both communities are within the St. Johns County School District. The district has adopted attendance‑zone changes for 2026–27 as new K‑8 schools open, which can shift assignments for some addresses. Always verify a specific home’s schools using the district’s Attendance Zone Locator and zoning updates.
For Nocatee, the developer also publishes neighborhood‑level 2026/27 assignments. If you are focused on a particular Nocatee village, review the Nocatee school zoning by neighborhood and then confirm at the district site.
New construction or resale
Durbin Crossing is largely built out, so you will be shopping mostly resale. Many first‑time buyers like the established feel, mature landscaping, and ability to move in quickly.
Nocatee continues to add neighborhoods, builders, and inventory phases, which means you can tour models, compare incentives, and secure builder warranties. Start your search with the Nocatee neighborhoods page, then weigh warranty coverage and build timelines against pricing in comparable resales.
Location and daily logistics
Durbin Crossing sits near the Race Track Road and CR‑210 corridors with quick connections to SR‑9B, I‑295, and I‑95, plus nearby retail at Durbin Park. It suits buyers who want suburban lots with straightforward highway access and neighborhood amenities. Explore community context on the Durbin Crossing site.
Nocatee highlights its proximity to the beaches and its on‑site Town Center, which can cut down on certain errand trips. If your routine pulls you toward Ponte Vedra or you like to stay within a town‑center environment, review the Nocatee location overview as you test your commute at peak times.
Carrying costs: CDD, HOA, and taxes
Both communities use HOA covenants and many parcels are within a Community Development District. CDD assessments typically appear on the county tax bill as a non‑ad valorem line item. Exact amounts vary by lot, village, and bond series, so request the current tax bill and CDD/HOA schedules for each property you are considering.
For Durbin Crossing, you can see district governance and adopted budgets through the Durbin Crossing CDD. When you run numbers, calculate a full monthly carrying cost that includes mortgage, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, HOA dues, and annual CDD divided by 12. The St. Johns County Property Appraiser is a helpful reference point as you compare properties.
What’s coming next in the corridor
Nocatee is moving through later phases while the master developer and partners are launching nearby projects. The adjacent EverRange community, opening neighborhoods in 2026 with an amenity hub called The Grove, will add new housing and services to the area. You can read a local report on the launch plans in the Jacksonville Daily Record’s coverage of EverRange and The Grove amenity hub.
Durbin Crossing is largely built and CDD‑operated, so future changes are more about amenity updates and assessments than major expansion. Check the Durbin Crossing CDD meeting minutes and budgets for signals on upcoming improvements or cost changes.
Which is the better fit for you?
Choose Durbin Crossing if you want:
- A lower entry price for many single‑family resales compared with similar Nocatee villages.
- Larger lot feel in several sections and established neighborhood amenities.
- Faster move‑in timelines and mature landscaping.
Choose Nocatee if you want:
- A broad amenity network, including water parks, trails, and a Town Center.
- New‑construction options, builder incentives, and warranty coverage.
- Entry via townhomes or West End and Woodland Park, with room to move up within the master plan over time.
First‑time buyer checklist
Before you write an offer, use this quick list to stay organized:
- Verify the address’s school assignment and 2026–27 changes using the district’s Attendance Zone Locator.
- Request the most recent county tax bill and the HOA/CDD budgets for the specific parcel; Durbin Crossing district records are at the Durbin Crossing CDD.
- Compare full monthly cost: mortgage + property taxes + homeowner’s insurance + HOA/12 + CDD/12. The St. Johns County Property Appraiser site is a good reference.
- Visit schools and ask about capacity and planned boundary adjustments.
- Test your commute during peak times along Race Track Rd, CR‑210, Nocatee Pkwy, I‑295, and I‑95 using your typical schedule.
- Ask how resident access cards and amenity privileges are handled, especially for Nocatee’s parks and Town Center services. Start with the Nocatee Town Center page.
Ready to see how each community fits your budget and timeline? Reach out to Laura Worrell for a personal plan, on‑the‑ground neighborhood insight, and step‑by‑step guidance from search to closing.
FAQs
Is Nocatee more expensive than Durbin Crossing for first‑time buyers?
- Overall medians trend higher in Nocatee (around $670k as of Oct 2025), while Durbin Crossing’s median was about $557,500; many first‑time buyers enter Nocatee via townhomes or West End and Woodland Park.
What amenities do Durbin Crossing and Nocatee offer?
- Durbin Crossing has two CDD amenity centers with pools, fitness, courts, and programs; Nocatee adds community‑scale perks like water parks, miles of trails, and an active Town Center.
How do CDD fees affect my monthly payment in St. Johns County?
- CDD assessments appear as a non‑ad valorem line on the tax bill; include annual CDD divided by 12 in your monthly cost and request the parcel’s current bill and CDD/HOA schedules.
How are school zones changing for 2026–27 in St. Johns County?
- The district adopted new K‑8 zones for 2026–27; confirm assignments for any address with the Attendance Zone Locator and, for Nocatee neighborhoods, cross‑check the developer’s zoning page.
What nearby development could affect Nocatee’s future amenities and services?
- The EverRange master‑planned community is launching neighborhoods in 2026 with an amenity hub called The Grove, which will add homes and services in the broader corridor, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record.
