Retire in Fruit Cove, FL: taxes, health care and cost of living
Fruit Cove, FL has about 35,877 residents, and 13.9% are 65 or older. The median home value is $484,000 and the median rent is $2,336 a month. The closest general hospital with an emergency department by car, Ascension St Vincent's St Johns County, is about 21 minutes away without traffic (7.5 miles). Florida has no state income tax, so Social Security, pensions and IRA withdrawals are not taxed by the state.
Health care near Fruit Cove
- Nearest general hospital with an emergency department: Ascension St Vincent's St Johns County, 2.3 mi in a straight line. Medicare overall rating: ★★★★☆ 4 of 5 (Care Compare). By car: about 21 minutes (7.5 miles) to Ascension St Vincent's St Johns County, without traffic. In an emergency, call 911.
- Nearest urgent care in our directory: MediQuick Urgent Care Centers, 50.0 mi. Urgent care is not an emergency room.
- Retail pharmacies within 5 miles: 2.
- Nh Jacksonville is 10.2 mi away, but it only treats service members, military retirees and families with TRICARE.
Fruit Cove compared with nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median age | 65 and older | Median home value | Median rent | Income, 65+ households | Nearest ER hospital | Closest airport | Retail pharmacies within 5 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit Cove | 35,877 | 41.3 | 13.9% | $484,000 | $2,336 | $91,297 | 21 min | 56 min | 2 |
| St. Johns | 75,016 | 39.1 | 11.2% | $533,400 | $2,257 | $87,124 | 20 min | 55 min | 2 |
| Ponte Vedra & Nocatee | 29,784 | 41.7 | 21.8% | $642,500 | $3,501 | $94,988 | 27 min | 53 min | 5 |
| Nocatee | 27,442 | 40.8 | 21% | $648,800 | $3,501 | $99,136 | 28 min | 54 min | 5 |
Taxes for retirees in Florida
Florida
No state income tax
- Florida has no individual income tax, so Social Security, pensions, IRA withdrawals and military retirement pay are not taxed by the state.
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions are not taxed by the state.
- Homeowners can claim a homestead exemption. Some counties and cities add an extra exemption for residents 65 and older with household income under a limit set each year ($38,686 for 2026).
- Veterans with an honorable discharge and a VA disability rating of 10% or more, from wartime service or from misfortune, get $5,000 off assessed value (an unremarried surviving spouse qualifies too); totally and permanently disabled veterans with a service-connected disability can get a full homestead exemption.
The real costs, honestly
Insurance and storms come first. Homeowners and flood insurance can cost more here than the property tax, and a standard policy does not cover flooding. Get quotes before you make an offer, check the flood zone and learn your evacuation zone.
FEMA flood maps · FloodSmart (National Flood Insurance Program) · Ready.gov: hurricanes
| County | Hurricane | Coastal flooding | Heat wave | Tornado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Johns County | Relatively High | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
What it costs to live here: St. Johns County
| County | Property tax paid a year | Owner costs a month, with mortgage | Owner costs a month, no mortgage | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Johns County | $3,721 | $2,351 | $728 | $1,922 |
Florida property tax: what changes when you buy
- Buying resets the taxable value. The seller's homestead savings end on Jan. 1 after you buy, so your first bill can be much lower than the ones that follow. Budget for the full bill, not the seller's.
- File for the homestead exemption with your county property appraiser by March 1 (form DR-501). It takes up to $50,000 off the taxable value: the first $25,000 applies to all property taxes and the second $25,000 (on value between $50,000 and $75,000) to non-school taxes.
- After that, Save Our Homes limits how much the assessed value of your homestead can rise each year: 3% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. The cap for 2026 is 2.7%.
- Moving from another Florida homestead? You may be able to carry part of your Save Our Homes savings to the new home (portability). Ask the property appraiser before you sell.
Buying a condo in Fruit Cove: the rules since Surfside
Condo buildings three or more stories tall need a milestone structural inspection at 30 years (25 if the local building office requires it) and every 10 years after that. If the first phase finds serious deterioration, a second phase follows and repairs must start within 365 days of the report.
Associations with buildings three or more stories tall must have a structural integrity reserve study (SIRS) at least every 10 years. It covers the roof, structure, fireproofing, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing and painting, windows and exterior doors.
From budgets adopted in 2025, owners can no longer vote to waive or cut the reserves the study calls for. Many buildings raised monthly dues or approved special assessments to fund them.
Before you make an offer, ask the seller or the association for:
- The latest milestone inspection summary and any repair plan
- The structural integrity reserve study and how fully the reserves are funded
- Any special assessment approved or under discussion, and the current monthly dues
- The master insurance policy and what it covers
Airports for family visits from Fruit Cove
Weather month by month: visit in summer before you buy
July averages a high of 90°F and a low of 74°F with about 8 days of rain; January averages 66°F and 47°F (NOAA, St Augustine Wtp station, 1996-2025).
Many people fall in love with this coast in winter and are surprised by the summer: heat and humidity from June to September, afternoon storms and hurricane season from June 1 to Nov. 30. Spend a week here in July or August before you decide.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high | 66°F | 69°F | 74°F | 80°F | 85°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 87°F | 81°F | 75°F | 69°F |
| Average low | 47°F | 50°F | 55°F | 60°F | 68°F | 72°F | 74°F | 75°F | 73°F | 66°F | 58°F | 51°F |
| Days with rain | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
An active retirement near Fruit Cove
Golf guide Visitor guides Events in Fruit Cove Libraries Fruit Cove news
Your moving checklist
- Driver's license and car registration with Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
- Register to vote at Register to vote in Florida
- Medicare plans change by ZIP code: compare them at Medicare.gov, or get free one-on-one help from your state's SHIP counselors
- Find a new doctor before you move: many practices have waiting lists for new patients
- Senior centers, meals, rides and help at home: find your local Area Agency on Aging through the Eldercare Locator (U.S. Administration for Community Living)
- Register with your county's special needs shelter program if you or someone at home depends on power for medical equipment
- Save your county emergency management page and sign up for its alerts
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