St. Augustine is well known for several reasons.
For one, the history of being the oldest continuously established town in the nation.
Another point is the lighthouse has been on several ghost hunting shows due to reports of it being haunted.
We also cannot forget the beaches!
There is a lot going on in St. Augustine, so we are here to guide you through the good and the bad of living in this Florida city.
Contents
Pros of Living in St. Augustine, FL
1. Historic Sites
St. Augustine is the oldest city in the US.
Officially founded in 1565 by the Spanish, this location in Florida was already inhabited by Native Americans.
There is a lot that comes with being the first settlement and it is not all great.
There is a haunted lighthouse, a fort, and an entire town of buildings that are possibly centuries old.
This might be one of the most tourable towns due to the neverending history at every turn.
2. Proximity to the Ocean
The reason Ponce de Leon came upon St. Augustine, in the first place, can be contributed to the fact that it was out in plain sight.
After having sailed across the ocean, coming upon the land was surely welcome and he probably jumped at the chance to get off the ship.
That makes the city a great place for things like a lighthouse, fort, and hotels built to soak up the sunrise over the ocean.
As you drive into town you see dozens of boats and the marina. It’s beautiful.
3. Access to Shopping
Being a city that draws tourists from all over means some people are going to fall in love with the place.
Those people bring their culture with them and open up businesses.
So, there are so many types of shops all over the downtown area.
The amount of specialty-made goods is unreal.
That is not limited to cool things to buy, either.
A nice variety of cafes and chocolate shops have sprung up.
Essentially, there is a sweet mix of food, drink, and products.
4. Local Economy
With a place as hopping as St. Augustine, it is only logical that finding work is easier here than in other areas.
Thanks to the location, it is pretty busy all year long.
There are no snow days but there might be storms.
More on that later.
Otherwise, there is a steady influx of tourists to keep the need high for help.
Because of the demand, it is also a smart place to open up shop for yourself.
5. Home Ownership
Compared to other places on the beach, the price range for buying a home is fairly attainable.
Sitting so close to the ocean can only help the property appreciate over time.
That means, if you ever decide to move inland, there is a good chance you will come out on top of that home purchase.
It also means that St. Augustine is a good place to get a vacation home that will not break the bank.
6. Outdoor Adventures
In addition to an entire ocean at your feet, there are also plenty of parks with their own uniqueness.
Some are for fishing, others are for exploring the wilderness.
Kids have parks to call their own and there are places to discover local history.
That might be another reason to call this the Fountain of Youth, you know, aside from there being a fountain of youth.
There is nothing that keeps you young like being active!
7. Cost of Living
Surprisingly, this beach town is below the national average when it comes to how much it costs to live there.
Not only are the home prices reasonable, but everything else you need to live is designed not to break your bank.
Perhaps the city has such a surplus of funds from the excessive tourism that they do not need to raise rates, which is always appreciated.
That also makes St. Augustine a high contender for retirement.
8. The Fountain of Youth
Some say the Fountain of Youth is a myth.
Those people have not been to St. Augustine.
Located off the main road, the city has dug in and made an entire low-key theme park off Ponce de Leon’s discovery.
It’s not just a cash grab, though.
The park doubles as an education on how the indigenous people were treated and their conversion to Catholicism.
The Fountain of Youth park contains the actual source that the Spanish sailors drank from all those years ago.
Exuding a light sulfur taste, it still has yet to be determined if there are anti-aging impacts of drinking the water.
Cons of Living in St. Augustine, FL
1. Tourist Trap
As much as tourism boosts the economy, it is not long before you wish they would go home.
Or that you actually did get snow storms.
As anyone who lives in a coastal town can tell you, tourists can be the worst.
Sure, it is interesting to meet people from all over the world, but at what cost?
The roads are congested, it can be tough to enjoy the beaches, and they are known for leaving trash everywhere.
During peak times, the cost of regular activities can skyrocket at some establishments.
2. Parking
If you live in town, you are probably already used to being cognizant of the schedule.
Weekends in the city would be dreadful because of the influx of out-of-towners.
You are likely to avoid the downtown area like the plague at a time when people in other cities would be happy to get out.
The reason is that you will have to fight or circle the lots forever to park.
Sometimes, the parking lots with spaces are so far away, that you might as well just take an Uber to avoid having to try it on your own.
3. Proximity to the Ocean
No, you did not imagine it, this was also listed as a pro.
As nice as it is to have magical sunrises every day, there is a lot that comes with living on the coast.
Florida is well known for evacuations due to tropical storms and hurricanes swooping in. St. Augustine is not immune.
That is especially threatening for residents and guests on the A1A strip that is as flat as the beach and open to flooding or worse.
4. Higher Rates
The lovely thing about living so close to the ocean, aside from potential property damage, is the insurance rates.
Knowing the high likelihood that one day Mother Nature might be an issue is how companies are able to take advantage of many Floridians.
It does o’t matter if the area has not had trouble in years.
There are more mandatory clauses that go with policies that will require you to pony up the extra dough every month.
5. Murky Waters
If you want to get in the water, stay on the beach.
Jellyfish come to the estuary to die and you do not want to be around for that.
The beaches are typically viewed as safe. Just be careful.
While exceedingly rare, there have been shark attacks.
6. Lack of Diversity
Pre-dating the city were Native Americans.
Then the Spanish Arrived.
Next was the British.
It was not until 1845 that Florida became American.
Having exchanged hands that often would leave one to think this was a diverse area.
Yet, that is far from the case.
Now, it may be because the city is such a magnet for retirees.
But the ethnic makeup of St. Augustine is 80% European descent, 8% African American, and 7% Hispanic.
It is not shockingly off, technically, but still.
7. Poverty Rate
This seems contrary to the booming local economy, but one in five citizens of St. Augustine lives below the poverty line.
The city stands out as well above the state for the number of people who are severely financially challenged.
What that means is that even though most people are working, the jobs available are low-paying.
8. Summer Weather
St. Augustine is the type of place you can visit in February and walk around comfortably outdoors.
It feels nice.
As a tourist, it is great even if you do come in the summer because it is just a few days.
When you live here, it is another story.
Living by the ocean and so far south means it is hot and humid for several months in the middle of the year.
This is the drippy sweat heat that is inescapable.
That type of humidity also brings swarms of bugs.
Be prepared.
Pros and Cons of Living in St Augustine, FL – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in St. Augustine, FL | Cons of Living in St. Augustine, FL |
|---|---|
| 1. Historic Sites | 1. Tourist Trap |
| 2. Proximity to the Ocean | 2. Parking |
| 3. Access to Shopping | 3. Proximity to the Ocean |
| 4. Local Economy | 4. Higher Rates |
| 5. Home Ownership | 5. Murky Waters |
| 6. Outdoor Adventures | 6. Lack of Diversity |
| 7. Cost of Living | 7. Poverty Rate |
| 8. The Fountain of Youth | 8. Summer Weather |
St. Augustine Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: St. Augustine Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Augustine Lighthouse actually haunted?
Given the long history and number of deaths that took place at the location, it’s easy to see why anyone would think so.
There are compelling pieces of evidence taken by teams who specialize in that sort of thing.
Private individuals who just so happened to be there have also captured great footage.
To give interested parties a chance to see for themselves, they now offer after-dark tours.
So, you get to decide.
How many beaches are in St. Augustine?
To start with, there are 42 miles of beaches in the city.
That is a lot of room to stretch out with your towel and umbrella.
Of that stretch, there are three public beaches with all the amenities you could ask for.
Available space is not limited to those three beaches, those are just the most accessible.
There is no shortage of sand, so do not worry about not finding space.
Where did Ponce de Leon go?
Juan Ponce de Leon may have been the first outsider to come across St. Augustine, but he is not the one who called it for Spain.
That was Pedro Menéndez de Avilés.
However, Ponce de Leon did try to be a colonizer.
He later became governor of Puerto Rico.
What do people do at the beach?
St. Augustine is known for having great waves for surfing, so there are groups of surfers who live there specifically so they can do that every day.
Aside from swimming or suntanning, beachgoers take their boats out on the water.
What is the downtown like?
There is a lot of European influence on the downtown design.
Many of the oldest buildings are very Spanish in appearance.
As you walk through, it definitely gives off old-world, European architecture vibes.
The downtown, like much of the city, is on the water.
It has also got a 350-year-old fort, too.
A little something for everyone.
im leaving queens ny because taxes are high nanely city and state and the general impression of the qualty of live in the five bouroughs
Never in my life have I ever or would ever, consider “diversity” as a reason to vacation or live somewhere.
If you have lived in S. FL you would.
I am leaving the diverse city of Raleigh because I don’t want to be shot or murdered . It seems that the more a place is “diverse “, the more unsafe , trash-filled , grafitti-covered , dangerous it is . Leaving it to all the “diverse ” NY and NJ people who can have. Will feel just like home.
Your are absolutely right Raleigh used to be a wonderful beautiful place to be but it has become as bad as living in Charlotte dangerous to even be outside after dark and forget about going down town sad but true
So by lack of “diversity” you mean there are less chances of being shot, killed, raped. Thanks for the info!
Exactly, because for some reason people can’t seem to agree to disagree.
Facts!
I love my city!!! Its real republican and not diverse at all.
To the people in the comments- your racist is showing. Disgusting