The Town FilesLake Butler, Florida
City in Union County · population 1,986 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,800
- Household income
- $49,922
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 35.1
Lake Butler is a city of 1,986 people in Union County, Florida. The median home is worth $167,800, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Florida towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of Florida towns.
How Lake Butler 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 Lake Butler is worth $167,800, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $49,922, which is more affordable than 85% of Florida towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 42.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Butler | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,800 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $774 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $49,922 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 42.1% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Lake Butler
| People | Lake Butler | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 33.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.7% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 12.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 92.4% |
Weather in Lake Butler
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 45.3°F. About 53.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 92 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 15 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Butler since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on December 25, 2006 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 25, 2003.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, freezing, hurricane.
| 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 Union County
Union County had 3,543 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,907 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Lake Butler itself the ACS puts it at 12.3%.
Public schools in Lake Butler
3 public schools with 2,370 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAKE BUTLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 1,028 | 18.0 |
| LAKE BUTLER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 727 | 14.5 |
| UNION COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 615 | 14.6 |
Towns near Lake Butler
- Starke, FL14.6 mi · 5,796 people · home $214,300
- Lawtey, FL16.3 mi · 636 people · home $167,500
- Alachua, FL18.5 mi · 10,574 people · home $299,200
- Waldo, FL18.8 mi · 846 people · home $113,600
- Watertown, FL19.4 mi · 3,018 people · home $114,100
- High Springs, FL21.1 mi · 6,215 people · home $320,700
- Lake City, FL21.4 mi · 12,329 people · home $184,900
- Macclenny, FL22.3 mi · 7,304 people · home $261,800
Lake Butler questions
Is Lake Butler, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Butler scores better for retirees than 46% of Florida towns and quieter than 45%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Lake Butler?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Butler is valued at $167,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,922, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Butler?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 45.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake Butler get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Butler since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on December 25, 2006. 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)