The Town FilesPalmetto, Florida
City in Manatee County · population 13,323 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $313,400
- Household income
- $62,621
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 73
- Median age
- 49.8
Palmetto is a city of 13,323 people in Manatee County, Florida. The median home is worth $313,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Florida towns, more vibrant than 81% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 79% of Florida towns.
How Palmetto 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 Palmetto is worth $313,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $62,621, which is more affordable than 38% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,366 a month. 68.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palmetto | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $313,400 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,366 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $62,621 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.8% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.2% | — |
Who lives in Palmetto
| People | Palmetto | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 92.4% |
Weather in Palmetto
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 52.2°F. About 56.3 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 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
73 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmetto since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 31, 1958 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 10, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 27, 1969.
Severe weather in Manatee County since 1996
Manatee County has been included in 50 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 Manatee County
Manatee County had 143,894 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,844 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Palmetto itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Palmetto
13 public schools with 10,465 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PALMETTO HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,194 | 23.8 |
| MANATEE SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS (charter) | 6-12 | 2,001 | 19.6 |
| BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,122 | 19.7 |
| VIRGIL MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 833 | 15.7 |
| IMAGINE CHARTER SCHOOL AT NORTH MANATEE (charter) | PK-8 | 773 | 16.1 |
| JAMES TILLMAN ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL | PK-5 | 575 | 16.4 |
| PALM VIEW K-8 SCHOOL | PK-8 | 571 | 12.1 |
| PALMETTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 545 | 13.0 |
| HOLA! ELEMENTARY @ MSA (charter) | PK-5 | 474 | 15.3 |
| LINCOLN MEMORIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 463 | 17.1 |
| BLACKBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 456 | 11.7 |
| PALMETTO CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-8 | 436 | 14.5 |
Towns near Palmetto
- Memphis, FL1.8 mi · 9,024 people · home $313,800
- Bradenton, FL2.4 mi · 55,698 people · home $309,400
- West Bradenton, FL2.9 mi · 4,247 people · home $425,100
- Ellenton, FL3.0 mi · 4,129 people · home $281,400
- Samoset, FL3.9 mi · 4,146 people · home $196,800
- West Samoset, FL4.0 mi · 6,482 people · home $212,800
- South Bradenton, FL4.5 mi · 26,858 people · home $167,200
- Bayshore Gardens, FL6.4 mi · 19,904 people · home $181,400
Palmetto questions
Is Palmetto, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palmetto scores better for retirees than 45% of Florida towns and quieter than 38%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Palmetto?
The median owner-occupied home in Palmetto is valued at $313,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,621, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,366 a month.
What is the weather like in Palmetto?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 52.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Palmetto get tornadoes?
73 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palmetto since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 31, 1958. 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)