What are the schools like in Tavares, FL?

Tavares is served primarily by LAKE. The district operates 31 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 14 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.8:1.

What is the median household income in Tavares?

The median household income in Tavares, FL is $54,271 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.

What is the weather like in Tavares, FL?

Tavares has an average high temperature of 69.9°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.9 inches.

Tavares, FL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Tavares, FL affordable or expensive?

Tavares's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Tavares is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $200,500 and the median rent is $1,191 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Tavares, FL?

Tavares has a violent crime rate of 64.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 243.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Tavares, FL a Good Place to Live?

Tavares is a small city of 19,088 in Florida, with a median household income of $54,271 and a 4.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Tavares stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Tavares is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Tavares 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: 101.1

Tavares's overall cost of living index is 101.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Tavares costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Tavares, FL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$200,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,191	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,271	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Tavares's violent crime rate is 64.2 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

64.2 /100k

Property Crime

243.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Tavares is served primarily by LAKE. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Tavares, FL	National Avg
School District	LAKE	—
Elementary Schools	31	—
Middle Schools	9	—
High Schools	14	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Tavares sees average highs of 69.9°F in January and 91.1°F in July, with 51.9 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Tavares, FL
Average High — January	69.9°F
Average High — July	91.1°F
Annual Precipitation	51.9"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Tavares, FL	National Avg
Population	19,088	—
Median Age	54.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.6%	18.9%
Asian	2.4%	6.3%
Under 18	15.9%	22.2%
65 and over	37.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Astatula, FL 4 mi Yalaha, FL 4 mi Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 5 mi Silver Lake, FL 5 mi Tangerine, FL 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Tavares

Tavares, FL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

32778

Tavares vs Other Cities

Tavares, FL vs Astatula, FL Tavares, FL vs Yalaha, FL Tavares, FL vs Howey-in-the-Hills, FL Tavares, FL vs Silver Lake, FL Tavares, FL vs Tangerine, FL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tavares, FL affordable or expensive?

Tavares's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Tavares roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $200,500 and median rent is $1,191/month.

What is the crime rate in Tavares, FL?

Tavares's violent crime rate is 64.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 243.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Tavares?

Public schools in Tavares are operated by LAKE. The district has 31 elementary, 9 middle, and 14 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. 23.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Tavares, FL a good place to live?

Tavares, FL has a population of 19,088, a median household income of $54,271, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Tavares?

Tavares averages 69.9°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.9 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Tavares?

Tavares, FL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 32778.

What is the population of Tavares?

The population of Tavares, Florida is 19,088 with a median age of 54.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Tavares?

Key numbers for living in Tavares: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $200,500, median household income $54,271, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Tavares side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.