The Town FilesApalachicola, Florida
City in Franklin County · population 2,341 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,000
- Household income
- $51,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 52.7
Apalachicola is a city of 2,341 people in Franklin County, Florida. The median home is worth $288,000, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks quieter than 98% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 94% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 81% of Florida towns.
How Apalachicola ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Apalachicola is worth $288,000, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $51,875, which is more affordable than 23% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,108 a month. 69.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Apalachicola | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,000 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,108 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $51,875 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 69.3% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.3% | — |
Who lives in Apalachicola
| People | Apalachicola | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.7 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.1% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.4% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Apalachicola
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 43.7°F. About 57.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 13 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Apalachicola since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 8, 1989 about 4.5 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 15, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on February 3, 2006.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4955: Hurricane Isaias |
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3655: Hurricane Isaias |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 3,545 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,873 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Apalachicola itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Apalachicola
1 public school with 367 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| APALACHICOLA BAY CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | PK-8 | 367 | 16.0 |
Towns near Apalachicola
- St. George Island, FL8.1 mi · 990 people · home $693,000
- Eastpoint, FL8.2 mi · 2,614 people · home $201,000
- Port St. Joe, FL19.9 mi · 3,357 people · home $353,100
- Carrabelle, FL21.4 mi · 2,606 people · home $217,900
- Mexico Beach, FL29.3 mi · 916 people · home $466,300
- Wewahitchka, FL30.0 mi · 2,074 people · home $185,800
Apalachicola questions
Is Apalachicola, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Apalachicola scores better for retirees than 81% of Florida towns and quieter than 98%. 32.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.7).
How much does a house cost in Apalachicola?
The median owner-occupied home in Apalachicola is valued at $288,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,875, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $1,108 a month.
What is the weather like in Apalachicola?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 43.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Apalachicola get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Apalachicola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 8, 1989. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)