The Town FilesHawthorne, Florida
City in Alachua County · population 1,478 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $177,800
- Household income
- $55,406
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 36.7
Hawthorne is a city of 1,478 people in Alachua County, Florida. The median home is worth $177,800, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Florida towns, quieter than 86% of Florida towns, hipper than 71% of Florida towns.
How Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne is worth $177,800, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $55,406, which is more affordable than 88% of Florida towns. Median rent is $727 a month. 68.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hawthorne | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $177,800 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $727 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $55,406 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.2% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Hawthorne
| People | Hawthorne | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.1% | 92.4% |
Weather in Hawthorne
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 41.4°F. About 55.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 109 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 17 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hawthorne since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 4, 1973 about 1.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 2, 1996.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 17, 1997.
Severe weather in Alachua County since 1996
Alachua County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| 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 |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Alachua County
Alachua County had 139,023 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,829 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Hawthorne itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Hawthorne
3 public schools with 1,214 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAWTHORNE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 492 | 32.8 |
| OCHWILLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 399 | 16.6 |
| CHESTER SHELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 323 | 12.9 |
Towns near Hawthorne
- Interlachen, FL12.2 mi · 1,441 people · home $152,500
- Micanopy, FL12.7 mi · 648 people · home $233,200
- Keystone Heights, FL13.5 mi · 1,446 people · home $227,900
- Waldo, FL14.4 mi · 846 people · home $113,600
- Gainesville, FL16.3 mi · 141,085 people · home $247,500
- East Williston, FL24.0 mi · 780 people · home —
- Starke, FL24.5 mi · 5,796 people · home $214,300
- Lake Kerr, FL24.8 mi · 1,843 people · home $109,800
Hawthorne questions
Is Hawthorne, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hawthorne scores better for retirees than 48% of Florida towns and quieter than 86%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Hawthorne?
The median owner-occupied home in Hawthorne is valued at $177,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,406, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $727 a month.
What is the weather like in Hawthorne?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 41.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Hawthorne get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hawthorne since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 4, 1973. 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)