The Town FilesLake City, Florida
City in Columbia County · population 12,329 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,900
- Household income
- $56,472
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 36.9
Lake City is a city of 12,329 people in Columbia County, Florida. The median home is worth $184,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 78% of Florida towns, better for young professionals than 74% of Florida towns.
How Lake City 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 Lake City is worth $184,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $56,472, which is more affordable than 86% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,040 a month. 39.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,040 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $56,472 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 39.9% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Lake City
| People | Lake City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 92.4% |
Weather in Lake City
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 40.9°F. About 54.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 83 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 14 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 25, 1960 about 1.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 18, 2003.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 Columbia County
Columbia County had 24,644 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,261 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Lake City itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Lake City
14 public schools with 8,004 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,727 | 22.7 |
| LAKE CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 941 | 19.6 |
| BELMONT ACADEMY (charter) | PK-12 | 823 | 20.6 |
| WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 714 | 17.9 |
| EASTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 664 | 18.4 |
| COLUMBIA CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 586 | 16.3 |
| SUMMERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 531 | 15.6 |
| PINEMOUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 471 | 14.7 |
| RICHARDSON SIXTH GRADE ACADEMY | 6-6 | 420 | 16.8 |
| MELROSE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 388 | 16.9 |
| FIVE POINTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 359 | 15.0 |
| NIBLACK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 307 | 16.2 |
Towns near Lake City
- Watertown, FL2.4 mi · 3,018 people · home $114,100
- Live Oak, FL21.8 mi · 6,735 people · home $160,300
- Jasper, FL25.4 mi · 3,621 people · home $78,300
- High Springs, FL27.1 mi · 6,215 people · home $320,700
- Alachua, FL29.8 mi · 10,574 people · home $299,200
Lake City questions
Is Lake City, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake City scores better for retirees than 28% of Florida towns and quieter than 36%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Lake City?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake City is valued at $184,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,472, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,040 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake City?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 40.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake City get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 25, 1960. 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)