The Town FilesPunta Gorda, Florida
City in Charlotte County · population 19,471 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $518,100
- Household income
- $85,779
- Jan low / Jul high
- 53° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 48
- Median age
- 66.3
Punta Gorda is a city of 19,471 people in Charlotte County, Florida. The median home is worth $518,100, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 90% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 86% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 82% of Florida towns.
How Punta Gorda 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 Punta Gorda is worth $518,100, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $85,779, which is more affordable than 17% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,410 a month. 81.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Punta Gorda | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $518,100 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,410 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $85,779 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 81.7% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.8% | — |
Who lives in Punta Gorda
| People | Punta Gorda | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 66.3 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 53.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 8.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 18.8% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Punta Gorda
July highs average 94.0°F and January lows 52.5°F. About 54.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 136 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Punta Gorda since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 21, 2006 about 5.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 10, 1992.
Severe weather in Charlotte County since 1996
Charlotte County has been included in 42 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 Charlotte County
Charlotte County had 56,024 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,082 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Punta Gorda itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Punta Gorda
6 public schools with 5,026 students, about 19.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLOTTE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,976 | 21.5 |
| PUNTA GORDA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,072 | 17.9 |
| EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 800 | 15.7 |
| SALLIE JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 658 | 15.0 |
| FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 9-12 | 355 | 32.3 |
| BAKER/HEAD START | PK-PK | 165 | 82.5 |
Towns near Punta Gorda
- Charlotte Park, FL1.1 mi · 2,667 people · home $290,800
- Charlotte Harbor, FL4.4 mi · 3,784 people · home $183,300
- Cleveland, FL6.0 mi · 3,435 people · home $177,800
- Port Charlotte, FL7.0 mi · 60,625 people · home $269,900
- Harbour Heights, FL7.5 mi · 3,428 people · home $368,900
- Rotonda, FL13.1 mi · 10,114 people · home $389,400
- North Port, FL13.8 mi · 74,793 people · home $362,500
- Warm Mineral Springs, FL16.3 mi · 5,442 people · home $188,300
Punta Gorda questions
Is Punta Gorda, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Punta Gorda scores better for retirees than 86% of Florida towns and quieter than 79%. 53.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 66.3).
How much does a house cost in Punta Gorda?
The median owner-occupied home in Punta Gorda is valued at $518,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,779, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $1,410 a month.
What is the weather like in Punta Gorda?
July highs average 94.0°F and January lows 52.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Punta Gorda get tornadoes?
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Punta Gorda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 21, 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)