The Town FilesBradenton, Florida
City in Manatee County · population 55,698 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $309,400
- Household income
- $60,822
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 79
- Median age
- 47.8
Bradenton is a city of 55,698 people in Manatee County, Florida. The median home is worth $309,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks hipper than 89% of Florida towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Florida towns, more walkable than 81% of Florida towns.
How Bradenton 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 Bradenton is worth $309,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $60,822, which is more affordable than 36% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,618 a month. 56.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bradenton | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,400 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,618 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $60,822 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 56.0% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.9% | — |
Who lives in Bradenton
| People | Bradenton | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.1% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.7% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Bradenton
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 52.2°F. About 56.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 116 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
79 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bradenton since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 31, 1958 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 27, 1969.
Severe weather in Manatee County since 1996
Manatee County has been included in 50 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Manatee County
Manatee County had 143,894 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,844 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Bradenton itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Bradenton
54 public schools with 32,250 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAKEWOOD RANCH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,368 | 23.4 |
| MANATEE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,996 | 21.7 |
| BRADEN RIVER HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,801 | 23.1 |
| SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL | 8-12 | 1,641 | 20.0 |
| BAYSHORE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,464 | 20.9 |
| TEAM SUCCESS A SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE (charter) | K-12 | 1,310 | 17.2 |
| B.D. GULLETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,258 | 18.0 |
| W. D. SUGG MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,009 | 18.7 |
| WILLIAM MONROE ROWLETT ACADEMY FOR ARTS AND COMMUNICATION (charter) | K-5 | 918 | 15.0 |
| LOUISE R JOHNSON K-8 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES | PK-8 | 913 | 14.7 |
| MARTHA B. KING MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 872 | 17.1 |
| BRADEN RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 838 | 18.2 |
Towns near Bradenton
- West Samoset, FL1.9 mi · 6,482 people · home $212,800
- South Bradenton, FL2.1 mi · 26,858 people · home $167,200
- Samoset, FL2.3 mi · 4,146 people · home $196,800
- West Bradenton, FL2.4 mi · 4,247 people · home $425,100
- Palmetto, FL2.4 mi · 13,323 people · home $313,400
- Bayshore Gardens, FL3.9 mi · 19,904 people · home $181,400
- Ellenton, FL4.0 mi · 4,129 people · home $281,400
- Memphis, FL4.0 mi · 9,024 people · home $313,800
Bradenton questions
Is Bradenton, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bradenton scores better for retirees than 41% of Florida towns and quieter than 28%. 28.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in Bradenton?
The median owner-occupied home in Bradenton is valued at $309,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,822, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,618 a month.
What is the weather like in Bradenton?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 52.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Bradenton get tornadoes?
79 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bradenton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 31, 1958. 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)