The Town FilesOcala, Florida
City in Marion County · population 63,591 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $241,400
- Household income
- $56,376
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 39.2
Ocala is a city of 63,591 people in Marion County, Florida. The median home is worth $241,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for cycling than 76% of Florida towns.
How Ocala 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 Ocala is worth $241,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $56,376, which is more affordable than 58% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,359 a month. 52.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ocala | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $241,400 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,359 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $56,376 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 52.1% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Ocala
| People | Ocala | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.2% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.1% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Ocala
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 45.6°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 110 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 8 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ocala since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 31, 1975 about 6.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 13, 2007.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| 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 Marion County
Marion County had 119,528 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,526 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Ocala itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Ocala
43 public schools with 30,050 students, about 18.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST PORT HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,997 | 27.5 |
| FOREST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,383 | 23.6 |
| VANGUARD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,634 | 22.7 |
| LAKE WEIR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,426 | 22.3 |
| SUNRISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,275 | 18.5 |
| LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,184 | 19.1 |
| HORIZON ACADEMY AT MARION OAKS | 6-8 | 1,112 | 19.9 |
| MARION OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,050 | 15.2 |
| SADDLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,000 | 18.9 |
| FORT KING MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 993 | 21.1 |
| HAMMETT BOWEN JR. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 970 | 17.6 |
| OSCEOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 915 | 20.3 |
Towns near Ocala
- Silver Springs, FL6.4 mi · 2,844 people · home $30,800
- Liberty Triangle, FL8.1 mi · 23,759 people · home $275,500
- Silver Springs Shores, FL9.4 mi · 24,846 people · home $201,300
- On Top of the World, FL9.6 mi · 12,668 people · home $303,900
- Ocala Estates, FL9.7 mi · 2,991 people · home $152,900
- Belleview, FL9.9 mi · 5,413 people · home $210,200
- Marion Oaks, FL12.5 mi · 19,034 people · home $257,700
- Rainbow Springs, FL18.4 mi · 5,091 people · home $310,600
Ocala questions
Is Ocala, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ocala scores better for retirees than 37% of Florida towns and quieter than 29%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Ocala?
The median owner-occupied home in Ocala is valued at $241,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,376, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,359 a month.
What is the weather like in Ocala?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 45.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Ocala get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ocala since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 31, 1975. 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)