The Town FilesRainbow Lakes Estates, Florida
Community in Marion County · population 3,438 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $160,400
- Household income
- $50,429
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 89°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 52.4
Rainbow Lakes Estates is a community of 3,438 people in Marion County, Florida. The median home is worth $160,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks quieter than 94% of Florida towns, better for first-time buyers than 94% of Florida towns, easier by car than 90% of Florida towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Florida
- #4 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Florida
- #13 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Florida
- #14 in 25 Small Towns in Florida With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #18 in The 25 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in Florida
- #22 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Florida
How Rainbow Lakes Estates 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 Rainbow Lakes Estates is worth $160,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $50,429, which is more affordable than 88% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,030 a month. 90.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rainbow Lakes Estates | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,400 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,030 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $50,429 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 90.3% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.9% | — |
Who lives in Rainbow Lakes Estates
| People | Rainbow Lakes Estates | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.4 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.0% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 11.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 39.1 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Rainbow Lakes Estates
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 44.1°F. About 57.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 15 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rainbow Lakes Estates since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 11, 1982 about 3.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 2003.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| 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 Marion County
Marion County had 119,528 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,526 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Rainbow Lakes Estates itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Towns near Rainbow Lakes Estates
- Rainbow Springs, FL6.0 mi · 5,091 people · home $310,600
- Citrus Springs, FL12.0 mi · 10,246 people · home $240,000
- Williston Highlands, FL12.1 mi · 2,591 people · home $228,400
- Ocala Estates, FL12.4 mi · 2,991 people · home $152,900
- On Top of the World, FL14.0 mi · 12,668 people · home $303,900
- Pine Ridge, FL15.8 mi · 11,042 people · home $384,800
- Hernando, FL15.9 mi · 9,284 people · home $209,700
- Williston, FL16.6 mi · 2,976 people · home $252,700
Rainbow Lakes Estates questions
Is Rainbow Lakes Estates, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rainbow Lakes Estates scores better for retirees than 72% of Florida towns and quieter than 94%. 32.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.4).
How much does a house cost in Rainbow Lakes Estates?
The median owner-occupied home in Rainbow Lakes Estates is valued at $160,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,429, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,030 a month.
What is the weather like in Rainbow Lakes Estates?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 44.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.1 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Rainbow Lakes Estates get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rainbow Lakes Estates since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 11, 1982. 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)