The Town FilesRuskin, Florida
Community in Hillsborough County · population 28,620 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $323,000
- Household income
- $79,235
- Jan low / Jul high
- 51° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 35.0
Ruskin is a community of 28,620 people in Hillsborough County, Florida. The median home is worth $323,000, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for families than 81% of Florida towns, more of a college town than 79% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 71% of Florida towns.
How Ruskin 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 Ruskin is worth $323,000, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $79,235, which is more affordable than 65% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,419 a month. 75.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ruskin | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $323,000 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,419 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $79,235 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.4% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 2007 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in Ruskin
| People | Ruskin | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.1% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.0% | — |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 35.6 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Ruskin
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 50.7°F. About 53.6 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 2 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ruskin since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 31, 1972 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on May 4, 1996.
Severe weather in Hillsborough County since 1996
Hillsborough County has been included in 47 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 Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County had 789,442 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,256 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Ruskin itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Ruskin
7 public schools with 7,657 students, about 20.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LENNARD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,422 | 24.0 |
| SHIELDS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,746 | 22.1 |
| CYPRESS CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 984 | 18.6 |
| LITERACY LEADERSHIP TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY SOUTH BAY (charter) | K-8 | 803 | 17.1 |
| RUSKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 790 | 19.8 |
| THOMPSON ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 754 | 20.9 |
| SOUTH COUNTY CAREER CENTER | PK-12 | 158 | 12.2 |
Towns near Ruskin
- Apollo Beach, FL4.0 mi · 26,002 people · home $472,700
- Sun City Center, FL4.1 mi · 30,952 people · home $317,000
- Wimauma, FL7.0 mi · 9,467 people · home $379,000
- Balm, FL8.7 mi · 6,541 people · home $345,300
- Gibsonton, FL8.8 mi · 18,566 people · home $304,500
- Riverview, FL10.9 mi · 107,396 people · home $384,200
- Progress Village, FL12.9 mi · 11,188 people · home $286,900
- Memphis, FL13.9 mi · 9,024 people · home $313,800
Ruskin questions
Is Ruskin, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ruskin scores better for retirees than 19% of Florida towns and quieter than 25%. 11.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in Ruskin?
The median owner-occupied home in Ruskin is valued at $323,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,235, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,419 a month.
What is the weather like in Ruskin?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 50.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Ruskin get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ruskin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 31, 1972. 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)