The Town FilesColumbia County, Florida
71,789 people. The median home is worth $194,900 (typical Florida town: $331,600) and the median household earns $59,205.
Towns in Columbia County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City | 12,329 | $184,900 | $56,472 | 36.9 |
| Watertown | 3,018 | $114,100 | $41,466 | 47.1 |
People and housing
| Columbia County | Typical Florida town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $976 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $59,205 | $71,140 |
| Median age | 40.7 | 42.8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 11.3% |
Jobs and pay
24,644 jobs in 2024, average pay $51,261 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 387 storm events in Columbia County from 1996 to 2026, with 5 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Columbia County has been included in 37 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3655: Hurricane Isaias |
| 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 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).