Small-town Northeast Florida, US-301 corridor, about 45 minutes from Jacksonville. Starke, Lawtey, Brooker, Hampton, and Sampson — real acreage, lower prices, and a slower pace than Duval and Clay.
Bradford County sits in the middle of the US-301 corridor between Jacksonville and Gainesville. Roughly 28,000 residents live across the county, most concentrated in and around Starke, the county seat. Outside the town limits it opens up quickly into pine timberland, small farms, and creek-side homesteads.
For buyers coming from Duval or Clay, the value shift is significant. Bradford's median sale price typically runs $50,000-$80,000 below the greater Jacksonville area. You often get more square footage, and — if you want it — real land: half-acre lots in town, five to fifty acres just outside.
The trade-offs are honest: shopping and dining are limited (you'll drive to Orange Park or Gainesville for a bigger grocery run), school ratings are more modest, and if you commute to Jacksonville daily, plan for 45-55 minutes each way via US-301 and I-10.
Bradford County also has a long agricultural heritage — strawberries, blueberries, and timber remain part of the local economy — and hosts the annual Bradford County Fair each spring in Starke.
County seat. Roughly 5,600 residents. Historic downtown, US-301 through-town retail, healthcare (UF Health Starke), and the county's largest inventory of homes.
Small city just north of Starke on US-301, population under 1,000. Rural residential, several churches, easy access to I-10.
Small town southeast of Starke near CR-18. Under 500 residents. Rural, quiet, and close to Santa Fe Lake.
Southwestern corner of Bradford County near the Alachua County line. Very small (~350 residents), agricultural.
Manufactured home communities, the Starke Golf area, and Bradford's substantial rural acreage submarket — an honest guide to a non-subdivision-heavy county.
Property taxes. Florida homestead exemption applies: primary residence gets $50,000 knocked off assessed value plus a Save Our Homes cap that limits annual assessment growth. See our Florida Homestead Exemption Guide for the filing steps.
Flood zones. Bradford has creek and lake systems (New River, Sampson Lake, Santa Fe Lake edges). If you're buying acreage or waterfront, always confirm the flood zone before you write an offer. Our Flood Zones guide walks through the codes.
Manufactured homes and land packages. Bradford has substantial inventory of manufactured (and modular) homes on land — both single-wide and double-wide. Financing rules differ from stick-built; make sure the loan officer you use is familiar with manufactured-home financing before you commit.
Wells and septic. Outside town limits, most homes are on well water and septic. Inspection is important — I always recommend a well flow test and septic scope on rural closings.
What's actually within reach — groceries, food, healthcare, parks, and everyday services around the county seat.
Listings pull live from the MLS. If the Starke feed is thin, we widen to the rest of Bradford County. Want a saved search set up? Just ask.
Prices by town, acreage buying tips, schools, commutes, and the honest local trade-offs — all in the long-form guide.
Along the US-301 corridor between Jacksonville (about 45 minutes north) and Gainesville (about 30 minutes south). County seat: Starke.
Starke (largest), Lawtey, Hampton, Brooker, and Sampson. Plus rural unincorporated areas.
Typically 500-1,000 active listings across the county, mixed between single-family, manufactured homes on land, and rural acreage.
It's viable but real — 45-55 minutes each way via US-301 and I-10. Fine for hybrid schedules, less pleasant for daily in-office roles.
Confirm well and septic condition, verify the flood zone if there's any creek or lake nearby, check the survey and easements, and understand what agricultural or timber classifications the current owner has on the tax roll. Happy to walk you through it.
Buying, selling, or just curious about what's out there — free 15-minute call.