The Town FilesJay, Florida
Town in Santa Rosa County · population 524 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,800
- Household income
- $48,359
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 30.8
Jay is a town of 524 people in Santa Rosa County, Florida. The median home is worth $150,800, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Florida towns, better for families than 89% of Florida towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Florida towns.
How Jay 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 Jay is worth $150,800, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $48,359, which is more affordable than 90% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,117 a month. 38.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jay | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,800 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,117 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $48,359 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 38.2% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Jay
| People | Jay | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.5% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.6% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 38.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Jay
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 39.0°F. About 65.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 83 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 48 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jay since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 15, 2016 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 15, 2023.
Severe weather in Santa Rosa County since 1996
Santa Rosa County has been included in 45 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 Santa Rosa County
Santa Rosa County had 43,548 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,217 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Jay itself the ACS puts it at 10.8%.
Public schools in Jay
3 public schools with 1,332 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAY HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 506 | 18.7 |
| JAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 488 | 15.3 |
| CHUMUCKLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 338 | 15.4 |
Towns near Jay
- Brownsdale, FL5.4 mi · 528 people · home $289,600
- Century, FL6.9 mi · 1,713 people · home $68,700
- Flomaton, AL7.6 mi · 1,466 people · home $111,200
- East Brewton, AL11.3 mi · 2,293 people · home $87,200
- Brewton, AL11.9 mi · 5,276 people · home $150,100
- Chumuckla, FL12.0 mi · 1,063 people · home $293,200
- Allentown, FL13.1 mi · 1,023 people · home $243,800
- Point Baker, FL19.2 mi · 3,443 people · home $213,000
Jay questions
Is Jay, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jay scores better for retirees than 38% of Florida towns and quieter than 60%. 9.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.8).
How much does a house cost in Jay?
The median owner-occupied home in Jay is valued at $150,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,359, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,117 a month.
What is the weather like in Jay?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 39.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 65.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Jay get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 15, 2016. 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)