Not ranked by amenity marketing or builder reputation. Ranked by confirmed annual carrying cost — HOA plus CDD plus year-1 property tax on a $425,000 home.
Most "best of" rankings for 55+ communities are ranking by amenities, lifestyle ratings, or builder reputation. Those factors matter. But the question most buyers are actually trying to answer at 11pm before a Saturday tour is: what will this cost me every year? This ranking answers that question with confirmed numbers where available and honest disclosure where they are not.
| Rank | Community | HOA/Year | CDD/Year | Tax/Year | Total Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reverie at Silverleaf | $2,376–$2,616 | $0 | $5,051 | $7,427–$7,667 |
| 2 | Reverie at TrailMark | Verify with builder | Verify with builder | $5,051 | Verify before comparing |
| 3 | WaterSong at RiverTown | $60 | Verify at sjcpa.us | $5,051 | $5,111 + CDD |
| 4 | Parkland Preserve (low CDD) | $920 | $2,390 | $5,051 | $8,361 |
| 5 | Parkland Preserve (high CDD) | $920 | $3,924 | $5,051 | $9,895 |
| — | Villages of Seloy | Verify with HOA | Verify at sjcpa.us | $5,051+* | *City millage may apply |
*Villages of Seloy is in St. Augustine proper and may carry a city millage (~5.10 mills) on top of county millage, making the effective rate higher than suburban communities. Verify parcel-specific millage at sjcpa.us.
Cost is one axis. Several others matter significantly:
Unique amenities: WaterSong at RiverTown ranks third on cost at unconfirmed CDD — but it is the only 55+ community in this market with St. Johns River frontage and a kayak launch. If that access matters to your daily life, its cost position may still make it the right choice.
New construction vs resale: Reverie at Silverleaf is active new construction — most lots are not yet built. Parkland Preserve is mostly resale. If walking through an as-built home before buying is important to you, Parkland Preserve has an advantage that cost alone does not reflect.
Community environment: Reverie at Silverleaf is a 55+ enclave inside a multi-generational master plan. Parkland Preserve is a standalone age-restricted community. WaterSong is a 55+ enclave inside RiverTown with shared river amenities. If complete demographic separation matters, that narrows the field to standalone communities only.
Size and social programming: WaterSong (~800 homes) and Parkland Preserve (367 homes) have meaningfully different community scales. Smaller communities have more intimate social dynamics; larger ones typically have more organized programming and a wider variety of clubs and activities.
Bridge Bay at Bannon Lakes, Summer Bay at Grand Oaks, and Freedom at San Salito all have limited public data. Their costs are not confirmed publicly. If you are considering one of these communities, request the HOA fee schedule, CDD disclosure, and recent tax bills before scheduling a tour — not after. See the individual community pages for what to ask and what documents to request.
Get confirmed current pricing and fee structures for the communities on your shortlist before you tour. The numbers here are accurate as of 2025 but community fees change — verify before making any financial decision.
Connect with a Local Agent →Annual cost calculations use 2025 St. Johns County millage of 13.47 mills with $50K homestead exemption on a $425,000 home. HOA and CDD figures from county records, builder materials, and listing sources. Fees can change — verify current amounts before making any offer. This page is for research purposes only.