Lake City, FL

Census place 1237775 · pop 12,515

D−46/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in FL
📍 Florida ranks #29 of 50 states →
🏆 Bad air0 days · top 15%
🚽 Own39.9% · bottom 4%
Taxes
0.78% property · US 0.99%6.98% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Homeownership39.9%4

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

39.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Income inequality0.5012

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.50 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Adult obesity41.4%13

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

41.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Adult smoking17.7%15

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

17.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Uninsured adults15.7%15

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

15.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Physical inactivity32.7%15

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

32.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate19.8%18

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

19.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Median household income$56,47222

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$56,472 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Poor mental health18.6%28

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Bachelor's degree or higher23.7%33

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

23.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.0%36

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Broadband access90.4%41

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

90.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Air quality (AQI)County-level44 AQI44

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

44 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time24 min52

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

24 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Population growth (5yr)+3.7%56

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+3.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Natural disaster riskCounty-level85/10057

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

85/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property-tax burden0.78%65

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.78% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Violent crime rate118/100k67

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

118 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Rent$1,497/mo69

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,497/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Housing cost$184,90075

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$184,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Property crime rate686/100k75

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

686 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Frequently asked

Is Lake City, FL a good place to live?
By the numbers, Lake City scores 46/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unhealthy air days and its weakest is homeownership. Florida overall ranks #29 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Lake City, FL?
Lake City reports 118 violent crimes per 100k and 686 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Lake City, FL expensive to live in?
Lake City has a median home value of $184,900 and typical rent around $1,497/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Lake City, FL?
Its weakest measured area is homeownership (39.9%) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Lake City, FL best at?
Its strongest measured area is unhealthy air days (0 days) — 85/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.