The Town FilesEast Lake, Florida
Community in Pinellas County · population 32,344 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $488,000
- Household income
- $99,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 51° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 60
- Median age
- 51.2
East Lake is a community of 32,344 people in Pinellas County, Florida. The median home is worth $488,000, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks more upscale than 86% of Florida towns, better for families than 84% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 83% of Florida towns.
How East Lake 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 East Lake is worth $488,000, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $99,333, which is more affordable than 41% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,942 a month. 83.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | East Lake | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $488,000 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,942 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $99,333 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 83.2% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.4% | — |
Who lives in East Lake
| People | East Lake | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.2% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.4% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.7% | — |
| Work from home | 25.8% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 92.4% |
Weather in East Lake
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 50.7°F. About 54.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 95 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 2 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
60 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Lake since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 12, 2023 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on February 28, 1998.
Severe weather in Pinellas County since 1996
Pinellas County has been included in 45 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, 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 |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Pinellas County
Pinellas County had 447,680 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,519 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in East Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near East Lake
- Trinity, FL4.8 mi · 11,924 people · home $459,800
- Palm Harbor, FL4.9 mi · 61,366 people · home $405,300
- Keystone, FL4.9 mi · 25,211 people · home $653,500
- Oldsmar, FL5.3 mi · 14,898 people · home $380,300
- Holiday, FL5.5 mi · 24,939 people · home $170,100
- Tarpon Springs, FL5.8 mi · 25,117 people · home $340,700
- Elfers, FL6.6 mi · 14,573 people · home $202,300
- Westchase, FL6.7 mi · 25,952 people · home $559,500
East Lake questions
Is East Lake, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, East Lake scores better for retirees than 83% of Florida towns and quieter than 57%. 28.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.2).
How much does a house cost in East Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in East Lake is valued at $488,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,333, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,942 a month.
What is the weather like in East Lake?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 50.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does East Lake get tornadoes?
60 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Lake 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)