The Town FilesLawtey, Florida
City in Bradford County · population 636 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,500
- Household income
- $51,944
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 41.5
Lawtey is a city of 636 people in Bradford County, Florida. The median home is worth $167,500, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Florida towns, quieter than 80% of Florida towns.
How Lawtey 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 Lawtey is worth $167,500, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $51,944, which is more affordable than 88% of Florida towns. Median rent is $723 a month. 75.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lawtey | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,500 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $723 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $51,944 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.2% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Lawtey
| People | Lawtey | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.5% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.2% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 16.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 49.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 92.4% |
Weather in Lawtey
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
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lawtey since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 7, 1971 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 23, 2013.
Severe weather in Bradford County since 1996
Bradford 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 Bradford County
Bradford County had 6,314 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,898 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Lawtey itself the ACS puts it at 14.1%.
Public schools in Lawtey
1 public school with 290 students, about 18.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWTEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 290 | 18.1 |
Towns near Lawtey
- Starke, FL7.4 mi · 5,796 people · home $214,300
- Middleburg, FL10.3 mi · 12,881 people · home $254,600
- Penney Farms, FL16.3 mi · 821 people · home $230,800
- Lake Butler, FL16.3 mi · 1,986 people · home $167,800
- Macclenny, FL16.4 mi · 7,304 people · home $261,800
- Oakleaf Plantation, FL16.6 mi · 31,034 people · home $351,200
- Asbury Lake, FL17.0 mi · 11,036 people · home $329,600
- Keystone Heights, FL18.5 mi · 1,446 people · home $227,900
Lawtey questions
Is Lawtey, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lawtey scores better for retirees than 20% of Florida towns and quieter than 80%. 13.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Lawtey?
The median owner-occupied home in Lawtey is valued at $167,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,944, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $723 a month.
What is the weather like in Lawtey?
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 Lawtey get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lawtey since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 7, 1971. 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)