The Town FilesCrystal River, Florida
City in Citrus County · population 3,396 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $332,100
- Household income
- $54,405
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 62.0
Crystal River is a city of 3,396 people in Citrus County, Florida. The median home is worth $332,100, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks quieter than 87% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 79% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 77% of Florida towns.
How Crystal River 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 Crystal River is worth $332,100, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 6.1 times the median household income of $54,405, which is more affordable than 15% of Florida towns. Median rent is $880 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Crystal River | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $332,100 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $880 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $54,405 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.1% | — |
Who lives in Crystal River
| People | Crystal River | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.0 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 46.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 11.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.7% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 14.0 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.9% | 92.4% |
Weather in Crystal River
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 42.6°F. About 52.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 112 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 16 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crystal River since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 12, 2023 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Citrus County since 1996
Citrus County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Citrus County
Citrus County had 34,702 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,953 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Crystal River itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Crystal River
4 public schools with 3,005 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRYSTAL RIVER HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,312 | 20.2 |
| CRYSTAL RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 911 | 19.0 |
| CRYSTAL RIVER PRIMARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 667 | 17.1 |
| ACADEMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (charter) | 9-12 | 115 | 19.2 |
Towns near Crystal River
- Homosassa Springs, FL7.0 mi · 14,283 people · home $158,200
- Lecanto, FL7.9 mi · 6,301 people · home $316,900
- Pine Ridge, FL8.0 mi · 11,042 people · home $384,800
- Beverly Hills, FL9.1 mi · 9,961 people · home $164,500
- Citrus Hills, FL10.4 mi · 9,302 people · home $436,600
- Citrus Springs, FL10.9 mi · 10,246 people · home $240,000
- Sugarmill Woods, FL12.2 mi · 11,204 people · home $332,600
- Hernando, FL13.2 mi · 9,284 people · home $209,700
Crystal River questions
Is Crystal River, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Crystal River scores better for retirees than 79% of Florida towns and quieter than 87%. 46.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.0).
How much does a house cost in Crystal River?
The median owner-occupied home in Crystal River is valued at $332,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,405, so homes cost about 6.1 times income. Median rent is $880 a month.
What is the weather like in Crystal River?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 42.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Crystal River get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crystal River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 12, 2023. 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)