The Town FilesArcadia, Florida
City in DeSoto County · population 7,420 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $177,700
- Household income
- $39,677
- Jan low / Jul high
- 47° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 36.2
Arcadia is a city of 7,420 people in DeSoto County, Florida. The median home is worth $177,700, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Florida towns, hipper than 80% of Florida towns.
How Arcadia ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Arcadia is worth $177,700, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $39,677, which is more affordable than 52% of Florida towns. Median rent is $956 a month. 49.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arcadia | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $177,700 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $956 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $39,677 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 49.3% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Arcadia
| People | Arcadia | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Arcadia
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 47.1°F. About 53.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 114 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 5 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arcadia since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on December 12, 1983 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 3, 2005.
Severe weather in DeSoto County since 1996
DeSoto County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
Jobs and pay in DeSoto County
DeSoto County had 9,915 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,347 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Arcadia itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Arcadia
7 public schools with 3,854 students, about 19.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DESOTO COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,259 | 18.2 |
| DESOTO MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,011 | 20.2 |
| MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 820 | 19.5 |
| WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 684 | 17.5 |
| DESOTO SECONDARY SCHOOL | K-12 | 68 | — |
| REDUCED SERVICES | K-12 | 12 | — |
| TEEN PARENT PK CHILD CARE PROGRAM | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Arcadia
- Southeast Arcadia, FL2.5 mi · 6,299 people · home $169,200
- Harbour Heights, FL18.2 mi · 3,428 people · home $368,900
- Cleveland, FL20.3 mi · 3,435 people · home $177,800
- Charlotte Harbor, FL21.8 mi · 3,784 people · home $183,300
- Port Charlotte, FL22.4 mi · 60,625 people · home $269,900
- Wauchula, FL22.7 mi · 4,900 people · home $191,800
- North Port, FL23.7 mi · 74,793 people · home $362,500
- Charlotte Park, FL24.8 mi · 2,667 people · home $290,800
Arcadia questions
Is Arcadia, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arcadia scores better for retirees than 13% of Florida towns and quieter than 40%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Arcadia?
The median owner-occupied home in Arcadia is valued at $177,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,677, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $956 a month.
What is the weather like in Arcadia?
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 47.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Arcadia get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arcadia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on December 12, 1983. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)