The Town FilesLakewood Ranch, Florida
Community in Manatee County · population 34,877 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $678,200
- Household income
- $122,925
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 53.5
Lakewood Ranch is a community of 34,877 people in Manatee County, Florida. The median home is worth $678,200, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Florida towns, better for families than 92% of Florida towns, more upscale than 91% of Florida towns.
How Lakewood Ranch 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 Lakewood Ranch is worth $678,200, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $122,925, which is more affordable than 25% of Florida towns. Median rent is $2,299 a month. 80.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakewood Ranch | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $678,200 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $2,299 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $122,925 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 80.0% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 2014 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.0% | — |
Who lives in Lakewood Ranch
| People | Lakewood Ranch | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.5 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.8% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.6% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.2% | — |
| Work from home | 31.6% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.9% | 92.4% |
Weather in Lakewood Ranch
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 52.2°F. About 56.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 116 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakewood Ranch since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 13, 1969 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 21, 1999.
Severe weather in Manatee County since 1996
Manatee County has been included in 50 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 |
| 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 Manatee County
Manatee County had 143,894 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,844 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Lakewood Ranch itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Lakewood Ranch
3 public schools with 2,350 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR MONA JAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 927 | 20.6 |
| ROBERT WILLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 764 | 16.3 |
| GILBERT W MCNEAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 659 | 15.0 |
Towns near Lakewood Ranch
- The Meadows, FL6.8 mi · 5,037 people · home $382,400
- Fruitville, FL7.7 mi · 15,484 people · home $412,500
- Kensington Park, FL8.1 mi · 3,697 people · home $328,600
- Lake Sarasota, FL9.3 mi · 3,979 people · home $381,000
- Sarasota Springs, FL9.6 mi · 12,521 people · home $349,100
- Samoset, FL10.3 mi · 4,146 people · home $196,800
- West Samoset, FL10.8 mi · 6,482 people · home $212,800
- Bee Ridge, FL11.0 mi · 9,955 people · home $412,400
Lakewood Ranch questions
Is Lakewood Ranch, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakewood Ranch scores better for retirees than 94% of Florida towns and quieter than 66%. 30.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.5).
How much does a house cost in Lakewood Ranch?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakewood Ranch is valued at $678,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $122,925, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $2,299 a month.
What is the weather like in Lakewood Ranch?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 52.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lakewood Ranch get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakewood Ranch since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 13, 1969. 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)