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Living in
Lake City.
About
Life in Lake City
Lake City is a community of 12,404 people in Florida. The median household income is $56,472, median rent runs about $1,040 per month, and median home values are around $184,900. Unemployment is low at 4.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Lake City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.8%
Foreign-Born
3.8%
Broadband Internet
90.4%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.8% foreign-born, most often from Morocco
Who lives in Lake City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lake City, the largest foreign-born group is from Morocco (22.2%), and 3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.8%
of residents
65 and Older
17.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.0%
of households
Married Couples
34.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
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 38% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Lake City
In Lake City, rent runs 38% below the FL average, and home values are 48% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,448
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
39.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $261,358 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above FL average
Unemployment in Lake City
Unemployment in Columbia County, which includes Lake City, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Lake City: Columbia County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Columbia County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Lake City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.6 min avg
How Lake City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lake City, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 41 mi
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV)
Regional airport · few flights289k passengers boarded in 2025
- 61 mi
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Medium hub3.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 145 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 62% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lake City runs 62% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
535.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,667.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lake City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
69.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Columbia County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Columbia County, which includes Lake City, 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 | Drought | None reported |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $200 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $45,600 |
| 2022 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $35,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,500 |
| 2019 | 7 | Heavy Rain | $1,500 |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Columbia County, county-wide
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Columbia County, which includes Lake City, is typically good — 209 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
209
per year
Moderate Days
156
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Columbia County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lake City has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
54.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
83
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
14
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 41°F | 4.27" |
| Feb | 67°F | 44°F | 3.23" |
| Mar | 73°F | 49°F | 4.29" |
| Apr | 79°F | 55°F | 3.55" |
| May | 85°F | 62°F | 3.47" |
| Jun | 88°F | 68°F | 7.55" |
| Jul | 90°F | 70°F | 7.16" |
| Aug | 89°F | 70°F | 7.28" |
| Sep | 86°F | 67°F | 5.86" |
| Oct | 79°F | 59°F | 2.50" |
| Nov | 71°F | 49°F | 1.91" |
| Dec | 66°F | 44°F | 2.91" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lake City
Lake City has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
9.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
HCA Florida Lake City Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
VA North Florida/south Georgia Healthcare System - Lake City
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
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.
Education17.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lake City
Lake City's student/teacher ratio is 17.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 23.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, 71 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lake City
Lake City has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve (71 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
Ecological & Historic Preserve
71 mi awayCastillo de San Marcos National Monument
National Monument
82 mi awayCumberland Island National Seashore
National Seashore
85 mi awayFort Matanzas National Monument
National Monument
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lake City
Columbia County Public Library
308 Nw Columbia Avenue, Lake City
West Branch Library
435 Nw Hall Of Fame Drive, Lake City
Cities Near Lake City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lake City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lake City FAQ
Is Lake City, Florida affordable?⌄
Lake City's median rent is $1,040/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $56,472/year. Median home value is $184,900.
Is Lake City, Florida safe?⌄
Lake City's violent crime rate was 535 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2668 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lake City, Florida?⌄
Columbia County, which includes Lake City, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lake City, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Lake City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,040/month and median household income is $56,472/year. The median home value is $184,900. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lake City, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Lake City is 24 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