What it's like to live in Tavares
Tavares is a small city in Florida with home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Tavares deals with household incomes below the national average, commute times longer than most cities, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Above-average commute times
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Tavares compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Tavares
Based on Tavares's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,992
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $59,840 a year
- 56% of Tavares renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$50,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,450
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,496/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,496 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $254,500. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $254,500 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.2% county unemployment
Unemployment in Lake County is 4.2%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Lake County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 83% below US
66 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 294/100k · Tavares Police Department · 2023 data
Getting around▲ 18% above US
31 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.6 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% 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 51°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 28% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Canaveral National Seashore (59 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Tavares's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,496/mo) equals 30% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near Tavares
All Florida guides →Not sure Tavares is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.