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Living in
Lake Butler.
Lake Butler is an unincorporated community in Orange County, FL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Lake Butler
The population is well-educated, with 58.4% holding college degrees, and the median household income of $182,500 reflects a community of professionals, though it's worth noting the population has declined 11.6% in recent years, suggesting some people leave once their circumstances change. Summers here are intensely hot and humid with significant rainfall, a weather pattern you either adapt to or resent after a few years — there's rarely an in-between feeling among long-term residents. If you work remotely or in a field where you can operate independently, the high cost of living is less of a stretch, but if you're job-hunting locally, you'll want to research carefully before committing.
Lake Butler at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Foreign-Born
21.0%
Broadband Internet
99.6%
of households
Population Growth
-11.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.0% foreign-born, most often from Brazil
Who lives in Lake Butler: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lake Butler, the largest foreign-born group is from Brazil (20.3%), and 10.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.6%
of residents
65 and Older
12.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.9%
of households
Married Couples
72.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.86
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 49% above FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Lake Butler
In Lake Butler, rent runs 49% above the FL average, and home values are 159% above the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
64.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
51.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,220
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
86.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2003
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.2%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Lake Butler and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Orange County, which includes Lake Butler, is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Lake Butler: Orange County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Orange County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Lake Butler is about 1% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Lake Butler Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area
Commute27.8 min avg
How Lake Butler residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lake Butler, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Major hub28.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 23% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Orange County Sheriff's Office, which covers Lake Butler, runs 23% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
404.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,423.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Orange County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Orange County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Orange County, which includes Lake Butler, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $16.6M |
| 2023 | 9 | Hail | $8,100 |
| 2022 | 11 | Hail | $206.0M |
| 2021 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $598,500 |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $956,500 |
| 2019 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.4M |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $42,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Lake Butler is about 1% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Orange County, which includes Lake Butler, is typically good — 266 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
266
per year
Moderate Days
98
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Orange County, county-wide
Lake Butler is about 1% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate92°F summers, 50°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lake Butler has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and warm winters (avg low 50°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
84°/60°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
85°/65°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
73°/50°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
53.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
129
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
2
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 49°F | 2.97" |
| Feb | 75°F | 51°F | 2.34" |
| Mar | 79°F | 55°F | 3.17" |
| Apr | 84°F | 59°F | 3.08" |
| May | 89°F | 66°F | 4.22" |
| Jun | 92°F | 71°F | 8.14" |
| Jul | 93°F | 73°F | 7.65" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 7.81" |
| Sep | 91°F | 72°F | 6.02" |
| Oct | 85°F | 65°F | 3.75" |
| Nov | 79°F | 57°F | 2.06" |
| Dec | 73°F | 52°F | 2.43" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lake Butler
Uninsured
4.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lake Butler's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Orlando Health-health Central Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Ocoee
Central Florida Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 7.7 mi away · Orlando
Aspire Health Partners
Psychiatric · 8.6 mi away · Orlando
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education20.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lake Butler
Lake Butler's student/teacher ratio is 20.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 64.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
64.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lake Butler (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,763 students · in-state tuition $13,575 · 13% graduate
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,631 students · in-state tuition $62,950 · 75% graduate · median earnings $64,156 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,361 students · in-state tuition $21,780 · 55% graduate · median earnings $74,765 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 109 students · in-state tuition $15,992 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,716 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Canaveral National Seashore, 52 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lake Butler
Lake Butler has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Canaveral National Seashore (52 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Canaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
52 mi awayFort Matanzas National Monument
National Monument
86 mi awayDe Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
95 mi awayCastillo de San Marcos National Monument
National Monument
98 mi awayCities Near Lake Butler
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lake Butler?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lake Butler FAQ
Is Lake Butler, Florida affordable?⌄
Lake Butler's median rent is $2,487/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $182,500/year. Median home value is $930,500.
Is Lake Butler, Florida safe?⌄
Lake Butler is policed by the Orange County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 404 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1424 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lake Butler, Florida?⌄
Orange County, which includes Lake Butler, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lake Butler, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Lake Butler is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,487/month and median household income is $182,500/year. The median home value is $930,500. About 64% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lake Butler, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Lake Butler is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from