The Town FilesFort Braden, Florida
Community in Leon County · population 1,045 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,000
- Household income
- $80,272
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 53.8
Fort Braden is a community of 1,045 people in Leon County, Florida. The median home is worth $164,000, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Florida towns, quieter than 77% of Florida towns.
How Fort Braden 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 Fort Braden is worth $164,000, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $80,272, which is more affordable than 98% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,034 a month. 80.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Braden | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,000 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,034 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $80,272 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 80.6% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.9% | — |
Who lives in Fort Braden
| People | Fort Braden | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.0% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 92.4% |
Weather in Fort Braden
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 39.8°F. About 59.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 79 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 30 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Braden since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 10, 2024 about 3.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 7, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 17, 2022.
Severe weather in Leon County since 1996
Leon County has been included in 37 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 |
| 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 |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
Jobs and pay in Leon County
Leon County had 163,754 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,906 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Fort Braden itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Fort Braden
1 public school with 693 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORT BRADEN SCHOOL | PK-8 | 693 | 15.8 |
Towns near Fort Braden
- Midway, FL7.2 mi · 3,537 people · home $226,500
- Quincy, FL10.0 mi · 7,970 people · home $125,500
- Gretna, FL14.6 mi · 1,357 people · home $112,500
- Hosford, FL15.9 mi · 551 people · home $138,400
- Havana, FL16.1 mi · 1,753 people · home $216,300
- Tallahassee, FL17.4 mi · 196,169 people · home $294,400
- Woodville, FL18.0 mi · 4,097 people · home $164,800
- Crawfordville, FL19.0 mi · 4,853 people · home $255,500
Fort Braden questions
Is Fort Braden, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Braden scores better for retirees than 43% of Florida towns and quieter than 77%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.8).
How much does a house cost in Fort Braden?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Braden is valued at $164,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,272, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,034 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Braden?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 39.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Fort Braden get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Braden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 10, 2024. 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)