Town · Florida

Fort White, Florida

Fort White, town, in Columbia County, Florida. Fort White had 665 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 618 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 531 (±210). GEOID 1224500.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

665

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 618 · ACS 2020-2024: 531 ±210

Median household income

$53,750

±$10,653 (90% margin)
Florida: $74,568

Median home value

$220,800

±$123,953 (90% margin)
Florida: $359,000

Median gross rent

$943

±$120 (90% margin)
Florida: $1,669

Where is Fort White and what county is it in?

Fort White is a town in Columbia County, Florida. It covers 2.6 square miles of land, 242 residents per square mile in 2020.

Fort White is in the Lake City, FL micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Fort White (marked with a dot) in Columbia County, Florida. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Fort White, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 665 people lived in Fort White on July 1, 2025, up 7.8% since 2020, slower than Florida (+8.9%). The 2020 Census counted 618 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 531 (±210).

  • July 2020→2021 +6 (627)
  • 2021→2022 +10 (637)
  • 2022→2023 +14 (651)
  • 2023→2024 +9 (660)
  • 2024→2025 +5 (665)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Fort WhiteColumbia CountyFlorida Change since 2015-2019
Total population 531 ±210 71,789 22,416,077 no clear change
Households 229 ±85 27,430 8,752,810 no clear change
Average household size 2.32 ±0.44 2.47 2.51 no clear change
Housing units 257 ±86 30,300 10,256,470 no clear change

Fort White's population since 2000

From 409 in 2000 to 665 in 2025: up 62.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Fort White as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 409
  • 2005 (estimate) 522
  • 2010 Census 567
  • 2015 (estimate) 568
  • 2020 Census 618
  • 2025 (estimate) 665

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Fort White?

The median resident of Fort White is 40.5 years old; 21.1% are under 18 and 21.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 65.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 23.2%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Fort WhiteColumbia CountyFlorida Change since 2015-2019
Median age 40.5 ±9.6 40.7 42.6 no clear change
Under 18 years 21.1% ±5.9 pts 22.2% 19.5% –
65 years and over 21.7% ±10.5 pts 20.3% 21.3% –
Male 49.5% ±9.3 pts 51.7% 49.1% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.3% ±14.2 pts 7.9% 27.4% –
White alone, not Hispanic 65.5% ±20.0 pts 70.3% 50.4% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 23.2% ±16.9 pts 16.1% 14.6% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±9.4 pts 1.0% 2.9% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±9.4 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±9.4 pts 0.0% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 3.0% ±4.4 pts 3.9% 3.8% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±9.4 pts 0.8% 0.7% –
Born outside the United States 0.9% ±1.2 pts 4.7% 21.9% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 6.7% ±8.5 pts 7.5% 30.6% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 14.3% ±8.3 pts 11.1% 7.4% –
With a disability 28.4% ±9.9 pts 21.2% 13.7% –
No health insurance coverage 8.7% ±6.2 pts 12.6% 11.5% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 86.5% ±14.1 pts 86.0% 89.9% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 17.0% ±9.1 pts 16.8% 34.1% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 7.4% ±5.9 pts 5.3% 12.9% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 97.2% ±3.5 pts 82.1% 86.3% –
Moved from another state in the past year 0.0% ±9.4 pts 2.1% 2.9% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Fort White earn?

Half of Fort White's 229 households earn less than $53,750 a year (±$10,653), against $59,205 in Columbia County and $74,568 in Florida. In 2015-2019 it was $50,458 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Fort WhiteColumbia CountyFlorida Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $53,750 ±$10,653 $59,205 $74,568 no clear change
Mean household income $60,762 ±$17,545 $77,718 $105,967 –
Per capita income $25,384 ±$7,029 $29,367 $42,609 no clear change
People below the poverty line 23.1% ±20.4 pts 16.7% 12.6% –
Children under 18 below the poverty line 26.6% ±28.6 pts 21.1% 16.5% –
Households receiving SNAP 41.9% ±20.9 pts 20.5% 12.6% –
Households with a computer 94.3% ±6.6 pts 95.5% 96.6% –
Households with a broadband subscription 87.3% ±9.6 pts 89.1% 91.6% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Fort White?

Owners occupy 74.2% of Fort White's occupied homes and renters 25.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $220,800 by its owner (±$123,953). The median renter pays $943 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Fort WhiteColumbia CountyFlorida Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $220,800 ±$123,953 $194,900 $359,000 no clear change
Median gross rent $943 ±$120 $976 $1,669 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 53.6% ±45.9 pts 40.0% 50.2% –
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,417 ±$400 $1,416 $1,959 –
Owner-occupied homes 74.2% ±21.0 pts 72.5% 67.6% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 25.8% ±21.0 pts 27.5% 32.4% –
Housing units 257 ±86 30,300 10,256,470 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±24.8 pts 0.4% 1.4% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±49.1 pts 6.3% 7.6% –
Single-family detached homes 40.9% ±15.5 pts 53.5% 54.7% –
Mobile homes 54.9% ±16.6 pts 34.7% 8.0% –
Built 2020 or later 0.8% ±1.6 pts 2.6% 3.2% –
Built 2010 to 2019 4.7% ±4.2 pts 10.9% 11.0% –
Built 1939 or earlier 3.1% ±3.0 pts 2.0% 1.9% –
Households with no vehicle 2.2% ±3.0 pts 5.5% 6.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in Fort White work and get to work?

59.1% of Fort White's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 24.1 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Fort WhiteColumbia CountyFlorida Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 61.4% ±14.2 pts 54.3% 59.8% –
Unemployment rate 2.7% ±4.1 pts 5.3% 4.8% –
Drove alone to work 59.1% ±26.7 pts 77.1% 70.2% –
Carpooled 26.8% ±32.7 pts 11.7% 9.2% –
Public transportation 2.8% ±4.9 pts 0.1% 1.2% –
Walked 3.9% ±6.5 pts 0.4% 1.4% –
Worked from home 5.1% ±5.6 pts 8.3% 15.7% –
Mean travel time to work 24.1 min ±6.4 25.8 min 28.0 min −7.9 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Fort White?

No census tract lies mostly in Fort White; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Fort White, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Fort White
Tract 1109.04Columbia County6,366 $60,863 $184,20019%
Tract 1109.03Columbia County4,547 $73,986 $191,90023%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Fort White) · Census block assignment files

How does Fort White compare with other places in Florida?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Fort White is the 12,047th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 357th-most populous of 411 in Florida.

Fort White is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.

Fort White's rank in Florida (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate357th411

Fort White's figures with every place in Florida (CSV)

Every place in Florida, sortable · Compare Fort White with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Fort White?

27 of the 57 figures for Fort White on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Fort White are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Fort White.