The Town FilesFernandina Beach, Florida
City in Nassau County · population 13,052 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $555,400
- Household income
- $97,903
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 58.6
Fernandina Beach is a city of 13,052 people in Nassau County, Florida. The median home is worth $555,400, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks more seaside character than 97% of Florida towns, hipper than 92% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 89% of Florida towns.
How Fernandina Beach 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 Fernandina Beach is worth $555,400, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $97,903, which is more affordable than 22% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,259 a month. 80.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fernandina Beach | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $555,400 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,259 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $97,903 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 80.5% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.9% | — |
Who lives in Fernandina Beach
| People | Fernandina Beach | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.6 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.8% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 11.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.3% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.3% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 16.6% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Fernandina Beach
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 45.4°F. About 49.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 5 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fernandina Beach since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 7, 2021 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 3, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 24, 2000.
Severe weather in Nassau County since 1996
Nassau County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
Jobs and pay in Nassau County
Nassau County had 27,451 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,807 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Fernandina Beach itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Fernandina Beach
7 public schools with 3,023 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 980 | 17.5 |
| FERNANDINA BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 689 | 19.1 |
| EMMA LOVE HARDEE ELEMENTARY | 3-5 | 645 | 17.4 |
| SOUTHSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 619 | 15.1 |
| NASSAU COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL | 6-12 | 90 | 22.5 |
| CONTRACTED RESIDENTIAL SERVICES | 9-11 | — | — |
| NASSAU ADULT AND CAREER CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Fernandina Beach
- Yulee, FL7.3 mi · 14,195 people · home $302,500
- St. Marys, GA10.2 mi · 18,256 people · home $312,300
- Atlantic Beach, FL22.2 mi · 13,513 people · home $630,200
- Nassau Village-Ratliff, FL23.6 mi · 5,561 people · home $253,000
- Kingsland, GA24.1 mi · 18,337 people · home $251,400
- Neptune Beach, FL24.1 mi · 7,217 people · home $670,900
- Jacksonville, FL25.5 mi · 949,611 people · home $293,700
- Jacksonville Beach, FL26.9 mi · 23,830 people · home $575,800
Fernandina Beach questions
Is Fernandina Beach, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fernandina Beach scores better for retirees than 89% of Florida towns and quieter than 72%. 37.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.6).
How much does a house cost in Fernandina Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Fernandina Beach is valued at $555,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,903, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $1,259 a month.
What is the weather like in Fernandina Beach?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 45.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Fernandina Beach get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fernandina Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 7, 2021. 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)