The Town FilesOkeechobee, Florida
City in Okeechobee County · population 5,254 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,700
- Household income
- $57,044
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 38.4
Okeechobee is a city of 5,254 people in Okeechobee County, Florida. The median home is worth $197,700, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 76% of Florida towns.
How Okeechobee 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 Okeechobee is worth $197,700, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $57,044, which is more affordable than 82% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,061 a month. 55.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Okeechobee | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,700 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,061 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $57,044 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 55.1% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Okeechobee
| People | Okeechobee | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Okeechobee
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 52.1°F. About 50.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 103 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 2 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Okeechobee since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 9, 2024 about 4.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 62 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 28, 2011.
Severe weather in Okeechobee County since 1996
Okeechobee County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
| December 13, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4680: Hurricane Nicole |
Jobs and pay in Okeechobee County
Okeechobee County had 12,349 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,406 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Okeechobee itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Okeechobee
11 public schools with 6,276 students, about 18.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OKEECHOBEE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,741 | 21.0 |
| EVERGLADES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 774 | 20.9 |
| OSCEOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 711 | 17.8 |
| YEARLING MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 625 | 15.2 |
| NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 558 | 19.2 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 548 | 19.6 |
| SEMINOLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 541 | 16.4 |
| SOUTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 536 | 16.8 |
| OKEECHOBEE ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY | PK-12 | 179 | 17.9 |
| TANTIE | 7-12 | 63 | — |
| STUDENT SERV./SPECIAL PROGRAMS | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Okeechobee
- Taylor Creek, FL3.0 mi · 4,470 people · home $115,400
- Indiantown, FL25.2 mi · 6,560 people · home $204,900
- Port St. Lucie, FL27.2 mi · 204,851 people · home $369,200
Okeechobee questions
Is Okeechobee, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Okeechobee scores better for retirees than 22% of Florida towns and quieter than 55%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Okeechobee?
The median owner-occupied home in Okeechobee is valued at $197,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,044, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,061 a month.
What is the weather like in Okeechobee?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 52.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Okeechobee get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Okeechobee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 9, 2024. 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)