The Town FilesSouth Daytona, Florida
City in Volusia County · population 12,865 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $222,200
- Household income
- $56,579
- Jan low / Jul high
- 49° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 48.5
South Daytona is a city of 12,865 people in Volusia County, Florida. The median home is worth $222,200, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 85% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 74% of Florida towns, easier by car than 74% of Florida towns.
How South Daytona 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 South Daytona is worth $222,200, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $56,579, which is more affordable than 70% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,379 a month. 64.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Daytona | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $222,200 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,379 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $56,579 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 64.1% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.0% | — |
Who lives in South Daytona
| People | South Daytona | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 92.4% |
Weather in South Daytona
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 49.2°F. About 53.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 3 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Daytona since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 22, 1998 about 3.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 20, 2018.
Severe weather in Volusia County since 1996
Volusia County has been included in 44 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 |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Volusia County
Volusia County had 189,265 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,114 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in South Daytona itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in South Daytona
1 public school with 787 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH DAYTONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 787 | 17.5 |
Towns near South Daytona
- Daytona Beach Shores, FL1.5 mi · 5,179 people · home $437,800
- Port Orange, FL3.7 mi · 62,596 people · home $317,200
- Daytona Beach, FL5.8 mi · 72,647 people · home $287,700
- Holly Hill, FL6.0 mi · 12,958 people · home $205,100
- Ponce Inlet, FL6.8 mi · 3,364 people · home $544,300
- Samsula-Spruce Creek, FL8.6 mi · 4,877 people · home $443,500
- New Smyrna Beach, FL9.9 mi · 30,142 people · home $395,300
- Ormond Beach, FL10.5 mi · 43,080 people · home $354,800
South Daytona questions
Is South Daytona, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Daytona scores better for retirees than 52% of Florida towns and quieter than 39%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.5).
How much does a house cost in South Daytona?
The median owner-occupied home in South Daytona is valued at $222,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,579, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,379 a month.
What is the weather like in South Daytona?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 49.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does South Daytona get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Daytona since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 22, 1998. 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)