Median Age
39 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
20%
Lake City, FL
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$908
Population
13,095
Renter Mix
50% Rent
Savor the natural amenities and accessibility of this small town
Rural
•
Suburban
•
Historic
Lake City sits in northern Central Florida containing a bevy of lakes, parks, and trails. Lake City is also convenient to a number of freshwater springs, serving as the county seat of Columbia County, the Freshwater Capital of America. Popular springs at Ichetucknee Springs State Park and Madison Blue Springs State Park are just minutes away from Lake City as well. Lake City’s close proximity to outdoor havens such as Osceola National Forest makes it an ideal place for those who enjoy activities like canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, biking, hiking, and camping.
Lake City is also known as the Gateway to Florida for its location near the intersection of I-10 and I-75, connecting Lake City to most of Florida’s major cities. The close-knit community in Lake City comes together for a variety of seasonal events, including the Gateway City Craft Beer and Wine Festival, Fourth of July Celebration, Trunk or Treat, Snow Day, and the Lake DeSoto Farmers Market.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$50,106
Average: $65,455
Education
2,638
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
5,434
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
In Lake City, there are roughly the same number of renters and homeowners.
Renters
50%
Non-Renters
50%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
15%
Other Education
85%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Lake City, FL is $581 for a studio, $908 for one bedroom, $1,043 for two bedrooms, and $1,302 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Lake City has decreased by -4.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$908/month
598 Sq Ft
House
$1,925/month
1,076 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Lake City, FL is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-12
835 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
712 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
487 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
684 Students
Melrose Park Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
635 Students
Public
Grades PK-12
835 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
766 Students
Public
Grades K-8
419 Students
Columbia Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)
Public
Grades 6-12
18 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
Public
Grades PK-12
835 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,616 Students
Columbia Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)
Public
Grades 6-12
18 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
Public
Grades 9-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
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Top Apartments in Lake City
Houses for Rent in Lake City
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.