The Town FilesPalatka, Florida
City in Putnam County · population 10,446 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,500
- Household income
- $32,021
- Jan low / Jul high
- 47° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 35.3
Palatka is a city of 10,446 people in Putnam County, Florida. The median home is worth $150,500, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 71% of Florida towns, better transit than 70% of Florida towns.
How Palatka 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 Palatka is worth $150,500, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $32,021, which is more affordable than 46% of Florida towns. Median rent is $901 a month. 50.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palatka | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,500 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $901 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $32,021 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 50.8% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Palatka
| People | Palatka | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.7% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.3% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Palatka
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 47.1°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 3 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palatka since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 24, 1995 about 1.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 20, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 17, 2012.
Severe weather in Putnam County since 1996
Putnam County has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| 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 Putnam County
Putnam County had 17,320 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,592 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Palatka itself the ACS puts it at 9.3%.
Public schools in Palatka
8 public schools with 4,231 students, about 20.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PALATKA JR - SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 1,606 | 21.7 |
| KELLEY SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 752 | 19.3 |
| WILLIAM D. MOSELEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 585 | 17.7 |
| JAMES A. LONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 542 | 16.4 |
| MELLON LEARNING CENTER | PK-12 | 291 | 22.4 |
| THE CHILDREN'S READING CENTER (charter) | K-6 | 260 | 23.6 |
| PUTNAM ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (charter) | 6-8 | 195 | 21.7 |
| TEEN PARENT PK CHILD CARE PROGRAM | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Palatka
- Flagler Estates, FL12.9 mi · 3,540 people · home $213,300
- Green Cove Springs, FL23.2 mi · 9,786 people · home $371,000
- St. Augustine Shores, FL24.1 mi · 8,706 people · home $339,300
- World Golf Village, FL24.5 mi · 22,117 people · home $477,000
- St. Augustine South, FL25.2 mi · 5,066 people · home $347,400
- Butler Beach, FL26.5 mi · 4,978 people · home $493,100
- Bunnell, FL26.5 mi · 3,276 people · home $286,400
- Palm Coast, FL27.0 mi · 89,258 people · home $350,800
Palatka questions
Is Palatka, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palatka scores better for retirees than 30% of Florida towns and quieter than 40%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Palatka?
The median owner-occupied home in Palatka is valued at $150,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,021, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $901 a month.
What is the weather like in Palatka?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 47.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Palatka get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palatka since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 24, 1995. 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)