Duval County · Area Guide
Riverside & Avondale, Jacksonville
Adjoining historic districts along the St. Johns River, known for varied architecture, brick streets, Five Points and St. Johns Avenue.
Our take on Riverside & Avondale
These neighborhoods are defined by early-1900s architecture, mature oaks and independent shops rather than master-planned amenities. We are straightforward about renovation budgets, flood and insurance details, and how each block differs.
What the data will not tell you
- There is no CDD here, which removes a monthly charge found in many newer communities. We weigh that against the maintenance older homes call for.
- School assignment and flood determinations vary block by block. We verify both before you waive key contingencies.
- Parking, alley access and accessory-unit potential differ by street, and listing photos rarely show it.
- Bidding can move quickly. We lean on renovation scopes and inspection findings, not just escalation clauses.
- Avondale and Riverside are adjacent but not identical. We compare walkability, lot size and street noise block by block.
Full market data & live listings
Pricing, days on market, and active inventory for Riverside / Avondale update on Momentum's data guides. We bring the judgment; they bring the live numbers.
Live data: use Momentum's Riverside guide below; also see Avondale for the neighboring pocket.
Neighborhood & Community Guide
Riverside & Avondale
Historic districts · Five Points · Riverfront parks
Duval County · Prepared by S² Home Partners · Last reviewed October 2026
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Community Snapshot
Two adjoining neighborhoods, often treated as one continuous district, so there is no separate census count.
Place type
Two neighborhoods of Jacksonville
Adjacent neighborhoods in the consolidated City of Jacksonville along the St. Johns River.
Riverside history
Platted 1868
Annexed by Jacksonville in 1887; most growth came between the 1901 Great Fire and the 1920s Florida land boom.
Avondale history
Created 1920
The original Avondale development dates to 1920.
Walk Score
71 / 68
Riverside 71 and Avondale 68, per walkscore.com in 2026.
Historic status
National Register Districts
Both neighborhoods are listed as National Register Historic Districts.
Known for
Architectural variety
A wide range of styles, plus the Five Points, King Street and Shoppes of Avondale commercial districts.
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Why People Love Living in Riverside & Avondale
Five Points
A cluster of independent shops, restaurants and the Sun-Ray Cinema at the heart of Riverside.
Memorial Park
Riverfront lawns along the St. Johns River, anchored by the “Life” sculpture.
Riverside Arts Market
A weekly market under the Fuller Warren Bridge with art, food and produce vendors.
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Neighborhood Personality
What the place itself feels like to move through.
Dense, gridded streets
Riverside’s street grid puts many blocks within a short walk of the next commercial node.
A boutique strip
St. Johns Avenue in Avondale is lined with independent shops, coffee and restaurants.
Oak canopy
Mature live oaks shade many blocks in both neighborhoods.
Preservation-minded
Historic-district guidelines shape exterior changes to older homes.
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Housing Overview
Most of Riverside and Avondale was built between the early 1900s and the 1920s land boom, which is why the architecture is so varied: Prairie and Craftsman bungalows, Tudor Revival cottages, Colonial-style homes, Mediterranean Revival houses and larger early-1900s mansions can all be found within a few blocks. Historic-district rules apply to many exteriors, and renovated cottages sit beside homes awaiting updates.
1900s–1920s
Prairie, Craftsman, Tudor Revival and Colonial-style homes.
Early mansions
Larger early-1900s homes, many divided or renovated.
Bungalows & cottages
Smaller homes, many renovated, on narrow lots.
Historic overlay
Exterior changes may need design review.
Sale prices here move too quickly to print in a guide, and every block behaves differently. Ask me for this week’s numbers on the specific streets you are considering.
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Restaurants & Local Favorites
Named below are long-running neighborhood spots; confirm hours and menus before you go.
Biscottis
A long-running restaurant on St. Johns Avenue in Avondale.
Black Sheep
A restaurant in the Five Points district.
Sun-Ray Cinema
A neighborhood cinema in Five Points with food and drink service.
Riverside Arts Market vendors
Prepared food and produce stalls under the Fuller Warren Bridge.
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Shopping & Everyday Living
Five Points
Independent shops and vintage and gift stores around the five-way intersection.
Shoppes of Avondale
The St. Johns Avenue retail strip named in Avondale’s description.
King Street District
A commercial corridor within Riverside.
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Parks, Recreation & Outdoor Living
Memorial Park
Riverfront lawn and sculpture along the St. Johns River.
Willowbranch Park
Neighborhood green space near St. Johns Avenue.
Riverside Park
A smaller park within the historic grid.
Boone Park
A park on the Avondale side near the river.
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Schools & Community Resources
Riverside and Avondale are zoned to Duval County Public Schools. Names below are for orientation; assignments depend on the address.
Riverside Elementary
Named in area district listings.
John N.C. Stockton Elementary
Nearby public elementary.
Magnet programs
Stanton College Prep and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts accept applicants district-wide.
St. Vincent’s Medical Center Riverside
A hospital campus within Riverside.
School boundaries do not always follow city lines. Confirm with the district before writing an offer.
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Commuting & Accessibility
Rounded, off-peak driving times.
Mayport
About 25–28 minutes
NAS Jax
About 18–20 minutes
Kings Bay
About 50 minutes
Downtown Jacksonville
A short drive
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Find Your Fit, by Feature
Match the features you want to the parts of this place that deliver them.
Historic architecture
Both neighborhoods are National Register Historic Districts with a wide range of early-1900s styles.
Boutique shopping
St. Johns Avenue and Five Points hold the independent retail.
Riverfront parks
Memorial Park and Willowbranch Park are both in the street grid.
Arts and cinema
The Riverside Arts Market and Sun-Ray Cinema set the cultural calendar.
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Pros & Considerations
An honest look at both sides.
What stands out
- An unusually varied collection of historic architecture.
- Independent shops, restaurants and a weekly arts market within the neighborhood.
- Riverfront parks and mature oak trees.
- Close to downtown and the Riverside hospital campus.
Worth weighing
- Historic-district rules can affect exterior projects and timelines.
- Older homes call for a careful inspection and an early insurance quote.
- Lot sizes are small on many blocks, and off-street parking varies.
- Flood exposure differs by block near the river and creeks; check each address.
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Local Insider Tips
Visit the market first
The Riverside Arts Market is a good way to see the area’s shape in one stop.
Ask about design review
Find out whether a home sits in a historic overlay before planning changes.
Get older-home inspections
Request roof, electrical, plumbing and foundation evaluations.
Walk the avenue
St. Johns Avenue is easiest to appreciate on foot.
Check flood maps
Confirm the flood zone and elevation by address.
Look at parking
Street versus driveway parking varies a lot by block.
A Weekend in Riverside & Avondale
Morning
Breakfast and coffee on St. Johns Avenue in Avondale.
Midday
Browse the shops around Five Points.
Afternoon
Walk Memorial Park along the river, or the Riverside Arts Market on a market day.
Evening
Dinner in Five Points, then a film at Sun-Ray Cinema.
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Final Thoughts
Riverside and Avondale offer a concentrated mix of preserved architecture, independent businesses and riverfront parks. If those features fit what you are looking for, we can help you compare specific blocks, historic-overlay rules and what an inspection should cover on early-1900s homes.
Talk with S² Home Partners about Riverside & Avondale
Tell us which streets, features and timeline you have in mind and we will send you current, address-level information.
Sarah Fuller & Sarah Luther, REALTORS® · S² Home Partners at Momentum Realty · S2HomePartners@gmail.com · 🏠 Equal Housing Opportunity
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Sources, Credits & Disclosures
Sources
- Wikipedia: Riverside and Avondale, Jacksonville
- Walk Score: Riverside
- Walk Score: Avondale
- Duval County Public Schools (school assignment and zoning)
Photo credits
- Riverside Arts Market: Riley Madison, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Historic Avondale: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Memorial Park, Riverside: Mgreason, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Drive times are rounded, off-peak estimates and change with traffic, construction and bridge or tunnel conditions. Walk Score values are as published on walkscore.com in 2026 and may change.
This guide is general information about a municipality and is not a recommendation about where any particular buyer should live. Information is believed accurate as of the date of publication and should be independently verified.
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