The Town FilesGonzalez, Florida
Community in Escambia County · population 14,586 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $278,300
- Household income
- $82,062
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 38.7
Gonzalez is a community of 14,586 people in Escambia County, Florida. The median home is worth $278,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for families than 84% of Florida towns, more of a college town than 75% of Florida towns.
How Gonzalez 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 Gonzalez is worth $278,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $82,062, which is more affordable than 85% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,250 a month. 82.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gonzalez | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $278,300 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,250 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $82,062 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 82.1% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gonzalez
| People | Gonzalez | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 92.4% |
Weather in Gonzalez
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 42.1°F. About 67.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 13 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gonzalez since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 23, 2016 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on January 21, 2017.
Severe weather in Escambia County since 1996
Escambia County has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4955: Hurricane Isaias |
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3655: Hurricane Isaias |
| 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 Escambia County
Escambia County had 145,972 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,268 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Gonzalez itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Gonzalez
4 public schools with 4,919 students, about 23.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. M. TATE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,156 | 26.6 |
| RANSOM MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,198 | 26.0 |
| KINGSFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 931 | 20.7 |
| JIM ALLEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 634 | 15.5 |
Towns near Gonzalez
- Ensley, FL4.4 mi · 23,817 people · home $222,000
- Pace, FL7.5 mi · 24,684 people · home $293,800
- Ferry Pass, FL7.6 mi · 29,921 people · home $260,100
- Wallace, FL7.9 mi · 3,868 people · home $400,700
- Brent, FL8.3 mi · 23,447 people · home $159,900
- Bellview, FL8.7 mi · 25,541 people · home $205,300
- Goulding, FL10.8 mi · 3,392 people · home $89,700
- Pea Ridge, FL11.1 mi · 3,787 people · home $220,800
Gonzalez questions
Is Gonzalez, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gonzalez scores better for retirees than 48% of Florida towns and quieter than 46%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Gonzalez?
The median owner-occupied home in Gonzalez is valued at $278,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,062, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,250 a month.
What is the weather like in Gonzalez?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 42.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 67.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Gonzalez get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gonzalez since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 23, 2016. 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)