The Town FilesCottondale, Florida
Town in Jackson County · population 848 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $79,200
- Household income
- $36,959
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 38.8
Cottondale is a town of 848 people in Jackson County, Florida. The median home is worth $79,200, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Florida towns, quieter than 84% of Florida towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of Florida towns.
How Cottondale 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 Cottondale is worth $79,200, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $36,959, which is more affordable than 97% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,085 a month. 66.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cottondale | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $79,200 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,085 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $36,959 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 66.9% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cottondale
| People | Cottondale | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.9% | 92.4% |
Weather in Cottondale
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 38.6°F. About 60.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 98 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cottondale since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 31, 2022 about 7.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 15, 2023.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| 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 Jackson County
Jackson County had 14,830 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,323 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Cottondale itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Cottondale
2 public schools with 877 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COTTONDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 461 | 14.4 |
| COTTONDALE HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 416 | 15.4 |
Towns near Cottondale
- Marianna, FL8.2 mi · 6,245 people · home $98,700
- Chipley, FL10.4 mi · 3,660 people · home $143,700
- Greenwood, FL13.4 mi · 539 people · home $96,400
- Graceville, FL14.7 mi · 2,153 people · home $120,600
- Malone, FL16.8 mi · 1,959 people · home $82,500
- Cottonwood, AL18.7 mi · 1,048 people · home $111,500
- Bonifay, FL19.2 mi · 2,759 people · home $142,100
- Grand Ridge, FL21.7 mi · 882 people · home $106,500
Cottondale questions
Is Cottondale, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cottondale scores better for retirees than 37% of Florida towns and quieter than 84%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Cottondale?
The median owner-occupied home in Cottondale is valued at $79,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,959, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,085 a month.
What is the weather like in Cottondale?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 38.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Cottondale get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cottondale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 31, 2022. 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)