The Town FilesPaxton, Florida
Town in Walton County · population 556 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,200
- Household income
- $61,136
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 50.8
Paxton is a town of 556 people in Walton County, Florida. The median home is worth $171,200, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks quieter than 90% of Florida towns, better for families than 87% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 73% of Florida towns.
How Paxton 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 Paxton is worth $171,200, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $61,136, which is more affordable than 94% of Florida towns. Median rent is $860 a month. 78.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paxton | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,200 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $860 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $61,136 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 78.9% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Paxton
| People | Paxton | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 10.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 92.4% |
Weather in Paxton
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 40.5°F. About 59.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 97 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 21 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paxton since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 1, 1983 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 23, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 2, 2003.
Severe weather in Walton County since 1996
Walton County has been included in 44 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 Walton County
Walton County had 34,785 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,144 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Paxton itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Paxton
1 public school with 795 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAXTON SCHOOL | PK-12 | 795 | 15.6 |
Towns near Paxton
- Florala, AL3.5 mi · 1,923 people · home $91,600
- Laurel Hill, FL8.7 mi · 584 people · home $117,900
- Samson, AL18.4 mi · 1,874 people · home $91,100
- Kinston, AL19.0 mi · 580 people · home $70,500
- DeFuniak Springs, FL21.7 mi · 5,919 people · home $201,400
- Opp, AL21.8 mi · 6,771 people · home $115,700
- Crestview, FL22.2 mi · 27,134 people · home $277,900
- Babbie, AL22.8 mi · 625 people · home $181,300
Paxton questions
Is Paxton, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paxton scores better for retirees than 73% of Florida towns and quieter than 90%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.8).
How much does a house cost in Paxton?
The median owner-occupied home in Paxton is valued at $171,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,136, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $860 a month.
What is the weather like in Paxton?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 40.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Paxton get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paxton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 1, 1983. 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)