Palatka is a small city of 10,471 in Florida, with a median household income of $30,945
and a 10.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Palatka stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Palatka is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Palatka city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.6
Palatka's overall cost of living index is 93.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Palatka costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Palatka, FL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$97,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$792
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$30,945
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Palatka's violent crime rate is 268.1 per 100,000 residents
— 29% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
268.1 /100k
Property Crime
3735.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Palatka is served primarily by PUTNAM.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.6:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Palatka, FL
National Avg
School District
PUTNAM
—
Elementary Schools
9
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
78.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Palatka sees average highs of 64.5°F in January
and 90.0°F in July,
with 55.9 inches of annual precipitation
.
Palatka's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Palatka roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $97,800 and median rent is $792/month.
Palatka's violent crime rate is 268.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3735.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Palatka are operated by PUTNAM.
The district has 9 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.6:1. 12.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Palatka, FL has a population of 10,471, a median household income of $30,945, and an unemployment rate of 10.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Palatka averages 64.5°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.9 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Palatka, FL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 32177.
The population of Palatka, Florida is 10,471 with a median age of 39.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Palatka: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $97,800, median household income $30,945, crime index 113 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Palatka side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
