The Town FilesChiefland, Florida
City in Levy County · population 2,316 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,700
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.5
Chiefland is a city of 2,316 people in Levy County, Florida. The median home is worth $167,700, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Florida towns, better for cycling than 84% of Florida towns, quieter than 75% of Florida towns.
How Chiefland 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 Chiefland is worth $167,700, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Median rent is $845 a month. 39.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chiefland | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,700 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $845 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | — | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 39.1% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Chiefland
| People | Chiefland | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.5% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 31.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.4% | 92.4% |
Weather in Chiefland
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 44.1°F. About 57.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 15 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chiefland since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. The strongest, an F1, struck on April 8, 1982 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 14, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 28, 2006.
Severe weather in Levy County since 1996
Levy County has been included in 45 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 |
| April 23, 2026 | Fire | FM-5632: Cow Creek Fire |
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
Jobs and pay in Levy County
Levy County had 9,153 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,623 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Chiefland itself the ACS puts it at 8.9%.
Public schools in Chiefland
4 public schools with 1,763 students, about 19.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEFLAND MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 830 | 22.4 |
| CHIEFLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 732 | 18.3 |
| WHISPERING WINDS CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | PK-5 | 117 | 13.0 |
| NATURE COAST MIDDLE SCHOOL (charter) | 6-8 | 84 | 14.0 |
Towns near Chiefland
- Manatee Road, FL3.6 mi · 2,484 people · home $155,400
- Andrews, FL4.2 mi · 837 people · home $117,700
- Fanning Springs, FL7.5 mi · 1,182 people · home $187,100
- Trenton, FL8.7 mi · 2,015 people · home $183,500
- Bronson, FL14.0 mi · 1,140 people · home $169,900
- East Bronson, FL16.7 mi · 2,025 people · home $147,500
- Bell, FL18.3 mi · 518 people · home $171,800
- Cross City, FL18.6 mi · 1,689 people · home $97,400
Chiefland questions
Is Chiefland, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chiefland scores better for retirees than 41% of Florida towns and quieter than 75%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Chiefland?
The median owner-occupied home in Chiefland is valued at $167,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is $845 a month.
What is the weather like in Chiefland?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 44.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Chiefland get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chiefland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on April 8, 1982. 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)