City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Welaka, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Welaka - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,059
Residents
$51,528
Median income
$271,200
Median home
$1,155
Median rent (state)

Welaka - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Welaka places in the 22nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

22nd
percentile, household income
60th
percentile, home value
33rd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Welaka, FL

1,059 people live in Welaka, Florida - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $51,528 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 16.6%. Typical homes in Welaka are valued around $271,200, and the median resident age is 53.1 years. About 11.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 42.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 13 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 550% from five years earlier.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,155 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Florida's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 79.7 out of 100 (High).

Population

1,059 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$51,528 /yr

Poverty 16.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Welaka compare to other US cities?

Where Welaka sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 22% higher than other cities
Home value 60% pricier than other cities
Median rent 33% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Welaka's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Florida, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

22ndIncome percentile

22nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Welaka's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$271,200 40th percentile more affordable than 40% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Welaka $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Welaka, FL Welaka, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Welaka, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Welaka, FL median $51,528/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Welaka, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Welaka, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,059
Median Income
$51,528
Median Home Value
$271,200
Median Age
53.1
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Labor force participation
42.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.9%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
700 residents720 residents740 residents760 residents780 residents800 residents 202020212022202320242025 725 residents 786 residents ▲ +8.4%
Welaka's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
13
housing units authorized
Single-Family
13
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
12.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 2
2021 2
2022 32
2023 7
2024 13

Permit volume increased 550% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.2%
Carpool
21.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
6.4%
Other
1.7%

Based on 389 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Welaka sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,155/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Winding Cypress
1,053 people
Weeki Wachee Gardens
1,070 people
DeLand Southwest
1,042 people
Panacea
1,039 people
Avalon
1,033 people
Mexico Beach
1,033 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Welaka's 1,059 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cherokee, AL
1,059 people
Penryn, CA
1,059 people
Woodland, ME
1,059 people
Roosevelt, NJ
1,059 people
Bainbridge, NY
1,059 people
Coosada, AL
1,060 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Welaka's $51,528 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sigourney, IA
$51,528 median income
Franklin, KS
$51,528 median income
Epps, LA
$51,528 median income
Tickfaw, LA
$51,528 median income
Morrisville, MO
$51,528 median income
Port Byron, NY
$51,528 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Welaka, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Welaka, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 39.1% 44.7% 14.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.0% White 39.1% Black or African American 44.7% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 14.8% Two or more races 1.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Welaka compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Welaka (this city) 1,059 $51,528
Winding Cypress 1,053 $142,819
Weeki Wachee Gardens 1,070 $60,909
DeLand Southwest 1,042 $40,670
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Welaka, FL?

What is the population of Welaka, FL? +

Welaka, FL counts 1,059 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Welaka, FL? +

In Welaka, the typical household earns $51,528 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Welaka? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Welaka; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Welaka, FL? +

Homes in Welaka carry a median value of $271,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.