The Town FilesBranford, Florida
Town in Suwannee County · population 711 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,100
- Household income
- $44,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 26.9
Branford is a town of 711 people in Suwannee County, Florida. The median home is worth $157,100, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 76% of Florida towns, easier by car than 76% of Florida towns.
How Branford 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 Branford is worth $157,100, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $44,313, which is more affordable than 82% of Florida towns. Median rent is $901 a month. 49.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Branford | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,100 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $901 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $44,313 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 49.7% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Branford
| People | Branford | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.9 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 11.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 1.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 1.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 38.0 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.8% | 92.4% |
Weather in Branford
July highs average 89.9°F and January lows 40.0°F. About 54.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Branford since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 27, 1984 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 23, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 13, 1980.
Severe weather in Suwannee County since 1996
Suwannee County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3655: Hurricane Isaias |
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
Jobs and pay in Suwannee County
Suwannee County had 12,030 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,639 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Branford itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Branford
2 public schools with 1,511 students, about 19.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRANFORD HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 782 | 20.1 |
| BRANFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 729 | 18.7 |
Towns near Branford
- Fort White, FL13.0 mi · 618 people · home $220,800
- Bell, FL14.7 mi · 518 people · home $171,800
- Mayo, FL16.3 mi · 1,055 people · home $166,300
- High Springs, FL23.0 mi · 6,215 people · home $320,700
- Lake City, FL23.0 mi · 12,329 people · home $184,900
- Live Oak, FL23.3 mi · 6,735 people · home $160,300
- Five Points, FL24.4 mi · 1,076 people · home —
- Watertown, FL24.7 mi · 3,018 people · home $114,100
Branford questions
Is Branford, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Branford scores better for retirees than 24% of Florida towns and quieter than 54%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.9).
How much does a house cost in Branford?
The median owner-occupied home in Branford is valued at $157,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,313, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $901 a month.
What is the weather like in Branford?
July highs average 89.9°F and January lows 40.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Branford get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Branford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 27, 1984. 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)