What are the schools like in Waldo, FL?

Waldo is served primarily by ALACHUA. The district operates 31 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 17 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.2:1.

What is the median household income in Waldo?

The median household income in Waldo, FL is $27,258 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.4%.

What is the weather like in Waldo, FL?

Waldo has an average high temperature of 67.1°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 53.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Waldo, FL affordable or expensive?

Waldo's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waldo is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $111,200 and the median rent is $1,044 per month.

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

Waldo has a violent crime rate of 403.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1477.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waldo, FL a Good Place to Live?

Waldo is a small town of 1,080 in Florida, with a median household income of $27,258 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Waldo 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 Waldo is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Waldo 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: 96.9

Waldo's overall cost of living index is 96.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waldo costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waldo, FL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$111,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,044	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$27,258	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Waldo's violent crime rate is 403.3 per 100,000 residents — 6% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

403.3 /100k

Property Crime

1477.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Waldo is served primarily by ALACHUA. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waldo, FL	National Avg
School District	ALACHUA	—
Elementary Schools	31	—
Middle Schools	10	—
High Schools	17	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	4.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waldo sees average highs of 67.1°F in January and 91.1°F in July, with 53.3 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Waldo, FL
Average High — January	67.1°F
Average High — July	91.1°F
Annual Precipitation	53.3"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Waldo, FL	National Avg
Population	1,080	—
Median Age	52.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	71.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	16.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.6%	22.2%
65 and over	15.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hampton, FL 5 mi Keystone Heights, FL 8 mi Starke, FL 11 mi Brooker, FL 12 mi Gainesville, FL 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Waldo

Waldo, FL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

32694

Waldo vs Other Cities

Waldo, FL vs Hampton, FL Waldo, FL vs Keystone Heights, FL Waldo, FL vs Starke, FL Waldo, FL vs Brooker, FL Waldo, FL vs Gainesville, FL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waldo, FL affordable or expensive?

Waldo's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waldo roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $111,200 and median rent is $1,044/month.

What is the crime rate in Waldo, FL?

Waldo's violent crime rate is 403.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1477.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waldo?

Public schools in Waldo are operated by ALACHUA. The district has 31 elementary, 10 middle, and 17 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. 4.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waldo, FL a good place to live?

Waldo, FL has a population of 1,080, a median household income of $27,258, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. 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 Waldo?

Waldo averages 67.1°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.3 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waldo?

Waldo, FL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 32694.

What is the population of Waldo?

The population of Waldo, Florida is 1,080 with a median age of 52.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waldo?

Key numbers for living in Waldo: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $111,200, median household income $27,258, crime index 92 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waldo side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.