CDD fees, county taxes, amenities, and beach proximity — the full honest comparison
| Category | Del Webb Nocatee | Del Webb Ponte Vedra | Del Webb eTown | Stillwater | Cascades WGV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOA / Month (est.) | ~$350–$420 | ~$300–$380 | ~$280–$340 | ~$200–$280 | ~$180–$240 |
| Price Range | $450K–$900K | $400K–$800K | $400K–$700K | $300K–$600K | $280K–$500K |
| County | St. Johns | St. Johns | Duval (lower mills) | St. Johns | St. Johns |
| CDD Fee / Year | ~$1,500–$3,500 | ~$1,500–$3,500 | None | None | None |
| Beach Drive | ~10 min | ~12 min | ~25 min | ~20 min | ~20 min |
| Onsite Dining | Yes — Tavern & Grill | No | No | No | No |
| Onsite Golf | No | No | No | Yes — Bobby Weed 18-hole | No |
| Nocatee Master Plan | Yes — full access | Yes — full access | No | No | No |
| Mayo Clinic Drive | ~20 min | ~22 min | ~15 min | ~25 min | ~30 min |
| New Construction | Active | Active + resale | Active + resale | Active + resale | Resale only |
Both sit within Nocatee, both share St. Johns County tax treatment and CDD fees, both have similar beach proximity. The differences: Nocatee is newer (2019 vs older), has the Tavern & Grill (Ponte Vedra does not), and carries a slightly higher HOA. Ponte Vedra has more resale depth — more pricing history and more negotiating leverage on resale units.
The county tax and CDD fee comparison is the central decision factor. eTown is in Duval County (higher millage but no CDD). Nocatee is in St. Johns County (lower millage but adds $1,500–$3,500/year in CDD). Net annual cost on comparable homes is often similar — run your specific numbers. eTown is closer to Jacksonville proper (15 min) and Mayo Clinic (15 min). Nocatee is closer to the beach (10 vs 25 min) and has Nocatee master plan access that eTown lacks.
Stillwater has Bobby Weed-designed 18-hole golf included in the community — no other First Coast 55+ community offers this. If golf is a daily practice, Stillwater delivers it at $150–$200/month less in HOA and $100K–$200K less in purchase price than comparable Nocatee homes. For non-golfers, Nocatee's amenity depth, beach proximity, and Tavern & Grill make a compelling case at the price premium.
We can run the full annual cost comparison — CDD, HOA, county tax, and insurance — for Nocatee vs any alternative.
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