The Town FilesLakeside, Florida
Community in Clay County · population 31,275 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $273,900
- Household income
- $81,684
- Jan low / Jul high
- 47° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 39.5
Lakeside is a community of 31,275 people in Clay County, Florida. The median home is worth $273,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for families than 76% of Florida towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of Florida towns, more vibrant than 73% of Florida towns.
How Lakeside 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 Lakeside is worth $273,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $81,684, which is more affordable than 85% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,479 a month. 68.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakeside | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $273,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,479 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $81,684 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.9% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lakeside
| People | Lakeside | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 19.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 92.4% |
Weather in Lakeside
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 47.2°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 97 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 4 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeside since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 29, 2001 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 3, 1999.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 22, 2026 | Fire | FM-5631: Railroad Complex Fire |
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 57,413 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,688 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Lakeside itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Towns near Lakeside
- Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace, FL3.6 mi · 14,482 people · home $224,900
- Fleming Island, FL4.3 mi · 29,142 people · home $422,400
- Orange Park, FL4.5 mi · 9,089 people · home $313,100
- Oakleaf Plantation, FL4.8 mi · 31,034 people · home $351,200
- Asbury Lake, FL6.1 mi · 11,036 people · home $329,600
- Fruit Cove, FL9.3 mi · 32,143 people · home $484,000
- Middleburg, FL9.9 mi · 12,881 people · home $254,600
- Green Cove Springs, FL11.7 mi · 9,786 people · home $371,000
Lakeside questions
Is Lakeside, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakeside scores better for retirees than 23% of Florida towns and quieter than 38%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Lakeside?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakeside is valued at $273,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,684, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,479 a month.
What is the weather like in Lakeside?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 47.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lakeside get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeside since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 29, 2001. 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)