Cedar Hills, Jacksonville
Updated June 22, 2026 · 7,602 residents
Cedar Hills is a residential community in southwest Jacksonville defined by its post-war ranch homes and proximity to the Cedar River. The area offers a semi-rural atmosphere with a diverse age profile, though residents should anticipate higher noise levels due to nearby transit corridors and inconsistent sidewalk coverage.
Key Highlights
About Cedar Hills
Cedar Hills, a prominent residential neighborhood in southwest Jacksonville, Florida, emerged as a key suburban development during the post-World War II era. Primarily constructed between 1949 and 1953, the area is defined by its extensive collection of American Ranch-style homes. The neighborhood’s character was shaped by its transition from urban to suburban living, anchored by the 1955 completion of the Cedar Hills Shopping Center, one of the region's earliest suburban commercial hubs. The area also encompasses the historically significant Sweetwater community, an enclave established by freed slaves following the Civil War. Situated along the Cedar River, the neighborhood is known for its mid-century suburban layout and distinct street naming themes, reflecting the rapid expansion of Jacksonville’s Westside during the mid-20th century.
The neighborhood is primarily residential and institutional, characterized by a semi-rural feel thanks to its significant tree canopy and open spaces. Unlike more densely packed urban areas, the area provides moderate privacy through varied housing spacing and modest yards. It maintains a distinct identity as a quiet yet active enclave, featuring a mix of light commercial services and local retail that supports the daily needs of its residents. The community is notable for its liberal political lean and high rates of health insurance coverage among its diverse population of families, professionals, and seniors.
Prospective residents should consider the trade-offs of living in an established suburban environment. While the neighborhood lacks large public parks, the quiet nature of its internal residential streets offers a better walking environment than the city average, despite some gaps in sidewalk connectivity. The area is best suited for those who value a structured, historic suburban layout and are comfortable with the acoustic environment associated with its proximity to major freeways and rail lines.
Neighborhood Scores Across 15 Qualities
Residential spacing varies between dense apartment clusters and single-family homes with moderate wooded buffers, providing more separation than the Jacksonville average.
Low-traffic residential streets and tree-lined loops offer safe paths for pedestrians, though inconsistent sidewalks across the area make walking less seamless than in other parts of Jacksonville. While major arterials are more difficult to navigate on foot, the quiet nature of the neighborhood streets provides a better experience than the city average.
Uniform tract housing and modest yards define the local landscape, providing a more structured visual environment than much of Jacksonville. According to iHuus data, the area features consistent rooflines and occasional private pools near the waterway.
Walking routes for pets are primarily limited to private fenced backyards and narrow street verges. While the area offers slightly more space for dogs than the Jacksonville average, there is a lack of large public parks or expansive green spaces within the residential grid.
Open land and significant tree canopy create a more rural atmosphere than the typical Jacksonville urban landscape. Residents will experience a mix of scattered homes and woodland remnants that are much less dense than the city average.
Residential pockets vary from very calm and low-key to surprisingly lively hubs with diverse dining and retail options. This area offers significantly more activity and local interest than the Jacksonville average.
Frequent acoustic disturbances occur due to the neighborhood's proximity to major transit corridors, including busy freeways and railroad tracks. This level of noise is notably higher than the average found throughout Jacksonville.
Air quality fluctuates between acceptable and unhealthy levels, though conditions remain notably better than the Jacksonville average. According to iHuus data, sensitive groups may experience occasional concern during certain periods.
Primarily residential and institutional, this area lacks heavy manufacturing or hazardous industrial sites. According to iHuus data, the neighborhood features significantly less industrial density than the Jacksonville average, consisting mostly of light commercial services and local retail strips.
Health insurance enrollment among residents is notably higher than the Jacksonville average, according to iHuus data. This indicates a greater level of access to medical coverage within the community.
Political leanings in this area are predominantly liberal, which represents a significant departure from the more conservative trends seen across much of Jacksonville.
Residents live alongside a varied demographic of young professionals, families, and seniors. This distribution represents a much broader age range than the typical Jacksonville profile according to iHuus data.
Residual flood risks exist within certain parts of the area; however, safety levels are notably higher than the Jacksonville average according to iHuus data.
Block-Level Insights for Cedar Hills
iHuus Neighborhood Intelligence Insights
Get block-level neighborhood insights for Cedar Hills
- Street-level scores — see how individual blocks compare, not just neighborhood averages
- Micro-zone boundaries — identify quiet pockets, flood boundaries, and walkable clusters before you visit
- 15 dimensions in full — walkability, noise, air quality, school quality, insurance coverage, population age profile, urban/rural index, and more
- Boundary risk alerts — know if your address sits near a block boundary where scores drop, the kind of detail no listing will ever mention
- School insights — individual school ratings and insights, not just district-level data
- Compare before you commit — side-by-side data across neighborhoods, down to block precision
No credit card required
Compare with Any Neighborhood
| Dimension | Cedar Hills | 29th and Chase |
|---|---|---|
| 🚶 Walkabilityavg 3.96 | ||
| 🔊 Acoustic Comfortavg 4.37 | ||
| 🤫 Privacy Indexavg 4.3 | ||
| 🎨 Visual Appealavg 4.24 | ||
| 🐕 Dog Friendlinessavg 4.28 | ||
| 🗺️ Urban-Rural Indexavg 5.22 | ||
| ✨ Neighborhood Vibeavg 1.5 | ||
| 🏥 Health Insurance Coverageavg 4.35 | ||
| 🌿 Air Qualityavg 3.84 | ||
| 🏭 Industrial Proximityavg 5.11 | ||
| 🌊 Flood Safetyavg 4.01 | ||
| 🗳️ Ideological Leanavg 2.75 | ||
| 👥 Population Age Profileavg 3.26 | ||
| 🔥 Fire Safety | ||
| 🏫 School Quality |
Cedar Hills Rankings
School Districts Serving Cedar Hills
Duval County Public Schools functions as a Mixed/Transition district defined by a stark contrast between its nationally recognized flagship academies and struggling neighborhood schools. Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier, who took office in 2024, the district is navigating a complex right-sizing process to address nearly 30,000 empty seats. This effort has led to a series of contentious school consolidations and intense public debate over a projected 100 million dollar budget deficit, drawing scrutiny from state officials and local families alike. For homebuyers, the district offers exceptional educational opportunities through highly sought-after magnet and advanced studies programs, such as Stanton College Preparatory and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. However, the ongoing consolidation of under-enrolled elementary schools and persistent achievement gaps in the urban core present a highly uneven landscape. While the district's overall financial reserves remain stable, the friction of managing declining enrollment and consolidating neighborhood campuses means that a family's experience will depend heavily on school zoning and access to the district's premier specialized programs.
Schools
School Insights for Cedar Hills
Below average outcomes; significant attendance and academic challenges.
School Insights
See what's really behind every school rating near Cedar Hills
- Individual school ratings — each school's own score with outcome context, not just a district average
- Enrollment & class size data — student-to-teacher ratio and how it compares to the state average
- Full demographics breakdown — ethnicity and gender composition for every school in the enrollment zone
- Every school in the district — all schools within the enrollment boundary ranked by rating, not just the closest one
- Grade levels & benchmarks — elementary through high school, with below/above state-average flags
No credit card required