The Town FilesWilliston, Florida
City in Levy County · population 2,976 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $252,700
- Household income
- $61,111
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 41.4
Williston is a city of 2,976 people in Levy County, Florida. The median home is worth $252,700, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Florida towns.
How Williston 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 Williston is worth $252,700, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $61,111, which is more affordable than 65% of Florida towns. Median rent is $969 a month. 72.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Williston | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $252,700 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $969 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $61,111 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 72.0% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Williston
| People | Williston | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 92.4% |
Weather in Williston
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 44.1°F. About 57.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 15 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williston since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. The strongest, an F1, struck on October 28, 1980 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 15, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 26, 2023.
Severe weather in Levy County since 1996
Levy County has been included in 45 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3655: Hurricane Isaias |
| April 23, 2026 | Fire | FM-5632: Cow Creek 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 |
Jobs and pay in Levy County
Levy County had 9,153 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,623 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Williston itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Williston
3 public schools with 2,286 students, about 20.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLISTON MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 1,126 | 21.7 |
| JOYCE M. BULLOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 650 | 18.6 |
| WILLISTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 510 | 21.3 |
Towns near Williston
- Williston Highlands, FL7.0 mi · 2,591 people · home $228,400
- Ocala Estates, FL15.5 mi · 2,991 people · home $152,900
- Rainbow Lakes Estates, FL16.6 mi · 3,438 people · home $160,400
- Newberry, FL19.7 mi · 7,342 people · home $288,100
- Rainbow Springs, FL20.5 mi · 5,091 people · home $310,600
- Gainesville, FL20.6 mi · 141,085 people · home $247,500
- On Top of the World, FL22.0 mi · 12,668 people · home $303,900
- Ocala, FL23.1 mi · 63,591 people · home $241,400
Williston questions
Is Williston, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Williston scores better for retirees than 40% of Florida towns and quieter than 54%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Williston?
The median owner-occupied home in Williston is valued at $252,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,111, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $969 a month.
What is the weather like in Williston?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 44.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Williston get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on October 28, 1980. 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)