What is it like living in Palencia?
Palencia is a premier master-planned community in St. Johns County offering a private golf course, a village center with shops and restaurants, resort-style pools, and an on-site elementary school. Residents enjoy a polished suburban lifestyle with easy access to I-95, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine.
Developed by Cordova Capital Partners, Palencia spans over 3,000 acres along the Intracoastal Waterway north of St. Augustine. The community is designed around a central village concept — Marshall Creek Plaza includes a Publix, restaurants, medical offices, and boutique shops, allowing residents to handle daily errands without leaving the neighborhood. The private Palencia Club features an 18-hole Arthur Hills-designed golf course, fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts, and multiple pool areas. Palencia has its own elementary school (Palencia Elementary, opened 2013) and is zoned for top-rated Valley Ridge Academy and Nease High School. The Intracoastal Waterway runs along the eastern boundary, offering waterfront homesites and community dock access for boating and kayaking.
What are the amenities in Palencia?
Palencia features a private 18-hole golf course, a full-service fitness center, resort-style pools, tennis and pickleball courts, playgrounds, miles of trails, and a village center with shopping and dining. A community dock on the Intracoastal Waterway provides direct water access for boating.
The Palencia Club is the social hub of the community, offering tiered membership levels that can include golf, fitness, and social access. The main amenity campus includes a junior Olympic-sized pool, a family splash pool, and a lap pool for fitness swimmers. Tennis and pickleball have become increasingly popular, with a growing league program. The trail system connects neighborhoods throughout the community, making it easy to walk, jog, or bike between amenity areas. The village center adds a layer of convenience rare in master-planned communities — residents can walk to Publix, grab dinner at local restaurants, or visit the on-site dentist and doctor without leaving Palencia.
What are home prices in Palencia in 2026?
The median home price in Palencia is approximately $525,000 in 2026. Homes range from townhomes and villas starting around $350K to custom waterfront and golf course estate homes exceeding $1.2 million, with the majority of single-family homes falling between $450K and $750K.
Palencia offers housing across multiple builders and product types. Townhomes and paired villas in sections like Las Calinas provide entry-level pricing from $350K to $450K. Standard single-family homes on interior lots range from $450K to $650K, while premium lots backing to the golf course, preserve, or water can push prices from $650K to $900K. The most exclusive homes — custom builds on waterfront or estate-sized lots — regularly exceed $1 million. Palencia's strong resale values and steady demand make it one of the more stable real estate markets in St. Johns County.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are HOA fees like in Palencia?
HOA fees in Palencia vary by neighborhood section but generally range from $150 to $350 per month for single-family homes, with townhome and villa sections sometimes higher due to additional exterior maintenance coverage. The fees cover common area maintenance, landscape upkeep, amenity access (excluding golf club membership), and community security. Golf club membership is separate and optional, with dues varying by membership tier.
How does Palencia compare to Nocatee?
Both are premier master-planned communities in St. Johns County, but they differ in scale and character. Nocatee is significantly larger with more commercial development, a water park-style amenity center, and a wider range of price points. Palencia is more intimate, with a private golf club, village-center feel, and Intracoastal Waterway access. Palencia's median price is slightly higher, reflecting its boutique positioning. Both share the top-rated St. Johns County schools.
Explore Nearby Communities
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Sources & Local Data
The information on this page is grounded in public records and live MLS data. Verify anything yourself:
- St. Johns County Property Appraiser · Public parcel records and assessed values for St. Johns County.
- U.S. Census QuickFacts: St. Johns County · Population, housing, and demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
- GreatSchools (Florida) · Independent school ratings and boundaries. School zoning can change, so verify per address.
Live prices, counts, and availability on this page come from the regional MLS through our own search, and update automatically. We do not publish static numbers that go stale.
Talk to a Local Expert
Questions about living in Palencia? DJ and Lindsey DellaSala know this market cold.