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Living in
Palatka.
About
Life in Palatka
Palatka is a community of 10,558 people in Florida. The median household income is $32,021, median rent runs about $901 per month, and median home values are around $150,500. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.
Palatka at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
37.3%
Foreign-Born
4.0%
Broadband Internet
81.3%
of households
Population Growth
+4.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.0% foreign-born, most often from Haiti
Who lives in Palatka: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Palatka, the largest foreign-born group is from Haiti (42.7%), and 6.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.7%
of residents
65 and Older
18.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.8%
of households
Married Couples
20.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.35
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 46% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Palatka
In Palatka, rent runs 46% below the FL average, and home values are 58% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,431
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $208,626 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts above FL average
Unemployment in Palatka
Unemployment in Putnam County, which includes Palatka, is 1 percentage points higher than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Palatka: Putnam County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Putnam County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Commute23.5 min avg
How Palatka residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Palatka, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 38 mi
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV)
Regional airport · few flights289k passengers boarded in 2025
- 58 mi
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Medium hub3.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 86 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 30% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Palatka runs 30% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
428.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,799
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Palatka Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
79.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Putnam County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Putnam County, which includes Palatka, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,100 |
| 2024 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,300 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $14,600 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,500 |
| 2021 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,100 |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,000 |
| 2018 | 5 | 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
Putnam County, county-wide
Air Quality21 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Putnam County, which includes Palatka, is typically good — 349 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
21
Good Days
349
per year
Moderate Days
16
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Putnam County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 49°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Palatka has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and warm winters (avg low 49°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/59°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/64°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/49°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
55.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
76
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
3
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 47°F | 2.85" |
| Feb | 68°F | 50°F | 2.58" |
| Mar | 74°F | 54°F | 3.10" |
| Apr | 80°F | 59°F | 2.50" |
| May | 85°F | 65°F | 3.47" |
| Jun | 88°F | 71°F | 7.77" |
| Jul | 90°F | 73°F | 6.36" |
| Aug | 89°F | 73°F | 6.72" |
| Sep | 86°F | 71°F | 7.31" |
| Oct | 80°F | 65°F | 4.54" |
| Nov | 73°F | 57°F | 1.98" |
| Dec | 67°F | 51°F | 2.22" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Palatka
Palatka has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
13.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
HCA Florida Putnam Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 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.
Education16.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Palatka
Palatka's student/teacher ratio is 16.3:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 10.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
10.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Palatka
Saint Johns River State College
Public · 2-year · 4,403 students · in-state tuition $2,591 · 39% graduate · median earnings $45,331 (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: Fort Matanzas National Monument, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Palatka
Palatka has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Matanzas National Monument (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Matanzas National Monument
National Monument
26 mi awayCastillo de San Marcos National Monument
National Monument
28 mi awayTimucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
Ecological & Historic Preserve
58 mi awayCanaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
81 mi awayCumberland Island National Seashore
National Seashore
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in Palatka
Putnam County Library System/Palatka Public Library
601 College Road, Palatka
Cities Near Palatka
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Palatka?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Palatka FAQ
Is Palatka, Florida affordable?⌄
Palatka's median rent is $901/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $32,021/year. Median home value is $150,500.
Is Palatka, Florida safe?⌄
Palatka's violent crime rate was 429 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2799 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Palatka, Florida?⌄
Putnam County, which includes Palatka, has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Palatka, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Palatka is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $901/month and median household income is $32,021/year. The median home value is $150,500. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Palatka, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Palatka 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