The Town FilesFort Lauderdale, Florida
City in Broward County · population 182,760 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $486,700
- Household income
- $83,130
- Jan low / Jul high
- 60° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 96
- Median age
- 42.8
Fort Lauderdale is a city of 182,760 people in Broward County, Florida. The median home is worth $486,700, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Florida towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Florida towns, better transit than 93% of Florida towns.
How Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale is worth $486,700, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $83,130, which is more affordable than 18% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,854 a month. 54.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Lauderdale | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $486,700 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,854 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $83,130 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 54.1% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.5% | — |
Who lives in Fort Lauderdale
| People | Fort Lauderdale | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.0% | — |
| Work from home | 19.0% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 92.4% |
Weather in Fort Lauderdale
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 59.6°F. About 64.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
96 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Lauderdale since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 1, 1980 about 2.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 89 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on February 10, 1983.
Severe weather in Broward County since 1996
Broward County has been included in 43 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 |
| April 27, 2023 | Flood | DR-4709: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| December 13, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4680: Hurricane Nicole |
| November 8, 2022 | Tropical Storm | EM-3587: Tropical Storm Nicole |
Jobs and pay in Broward County
Broward County had 864,520 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,492 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Fort Lauderdale itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Fort Lauderdale
32 public schools with 21,020 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DILLARD 6-12 | 6-12 | 2,199 | 20.7 |
| FORT LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,182 | 22.5 |
| NEW RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,589 | 21.8 |
| STRANAHAN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,328 | 21.1 |
| LAKEWOOD RANCH PREPARATORY ACADEMY (charter) | K-12 | 1,270 | 18.1 |
| SUNRISE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,238 | 20.6 |
| FLORANADA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 739 | 16.4 |
| MEADOWBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 739 | 15.4 |
| VIRGINIA SHUMAN YOUNG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 692 | 18.7 |
| WILLIAM DANDY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 681 | 17.5 |
| STEPHEN FOSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 658 | 16.9 |
| CROISSANT PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 653 | 18.7 |
Towns near Fort Lauderdale
- Wilton Manors, FL1.3 mi · 11,426 people · home $589,200
- Roosevelt Gardens, FL2.1 mi · 2,749 people · home $309,600
- Oakland Park, FL2.6 mi · 44,229 people · home $385,000
- Lauderdale Lakes, FL3.8 mi · 35,954 people · home $214,100
- Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL4.5 mi · 6,198 people · home $680,900
- Broadview Park, FL4.8 mi · 7,670 people · home $365,000
- Lauderhill, FL5.1 mi · 74,482 people · home $272,900
- Dania Beach, FL5.9 mi · 31,723 people · home $319,800
Fort Lauderdale questions
Is Fort Lauderdale, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Lauderdale scores better for retirees than 29% of Florida towns and quieter than 19%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Fort Lauderdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Lauderdale is valued at $486,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,130, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is $1,854 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Lauderdale?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 59.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Fort Lauderdale get tornadoes?
96 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Lauderdale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 1, 1980. 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)