The Town FilesLive Oak, Florida
City in Suwannee County · population 6,735 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,300
- Household income
- $59,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 37.4
Live Oak is a city of 6,735 people in Suwannee County, Florida. The median home is worth $160,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Florida towns, better for cycling than 88% of Florida towns.
How Live Oak 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 Live Oak is worth $160,300, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $59,375, which is more affordable than 94% of Florida towns. Median rent is $903 a month. 46.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Live Oak | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,300 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $903 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $59,375 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 46.6% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Live Oak
| People | Live Oak | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.0% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.3% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Live Oak
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 44.7°F. About 51.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 116 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 19 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Live Oak since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 13, 2001 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 25, 2005.
Severe weather in Suwannee County since 1996
Suwannee County has been included in 40 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Suwannee County
Suwannee County had 12,030 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,639 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Live Oak itself the ACS puts it at 14.2%.
Public schools in Live Oak
8 public schools with 4,386 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUWANNEE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,202 | 23.1 |
| SUWANNEE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 947 | 19.7 |
| SUWANNEE RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 867 | 18.4 |
| SUWANNEE PINEVIEW ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 676 | 16.9 |
| SUWANNEE SPRINGCREST ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 619 | 18.2 |
| SUWANNEE OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL | 1-12 | 56 | — |
| COMMUNITY BASE SERVICE STUDENTS | K-12 | 19 | — |
| RIVEROAK TECHNICAL COLLEGE | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Live Oak
- Jasper, FL11.5 mi · 3,621 people · home $78,300
- Lake City, FL21.8 mi · 12,329 people · home $184,900
- Watertown, FL24.1 mi · 3,018 people · home $114,100
- Madison, FL28.3 mi · 2,912 people · home $78,500
- Echols County, GA29.4 mi · 3,697 people · home $124,100
Live Oak questions
Is Live Oak, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Live Oak scores better for retirees than 33% of Florida towns and quieter than 62%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Live Oak?
The median owner-occupied home in Live Oak is valued at $160,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,375, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $903 a month.
What is the weather like in Live Oak?
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 44.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Live Oak get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Live Oak since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 13, 2001. 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)