What it's like to live in Tallahassee
Tallahassee is a large city in Florida with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Tallahassee deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and hospital ratings below the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
How Tallahassee compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Tallahassee
Based on Tallahassee's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,586
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $51,720 a year
- 57% of Tallahassee renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$58,880
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,440
- Homes cost 5.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,293/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,293 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $294,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $294,400 · 57% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 91% above US
629 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2381/100k · Tallahassee Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 42°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 42% above US
51% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
50 public schools inside the boundary
There are 50 public schools inside the boundary and 29 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Bottom line
Tallahassee's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,293/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who want short commutes and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Tallahassee
All Florida guides →Moving to Bradfordville →
8 mi away · pop. 18,953
Rent $1,881/mo · Income $133,359
Compare with Tallahassee →Moving to Callaway →
81 mi away · pop. 13,496
Rent $1,322/mo · Income $65,609
Compare with Tallahassee →Moving to Panama City →
81 mi away · pop. 34,979
Rent $1,327/mo · Income $62,265
Compare with Tallahassee →Moving to Lynn Haven →
84 mi away · pop. 20,081
Rent $1,563/mo · Income $80,973
Compare with Tallahassee →Not sure Tallahassee is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.