The Town FilesUniversity, Florida
Community in Orange County · population 45,284 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $298,900
- Household income
- $59,852
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 20.4
University is a community of 45,284 people in Orange County, Florida. The median home is worth $298,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Florida towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Florida towns, better transit than 92% of Florida towns.
How University 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 University is worth $298,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $59,852, which is more affordable than 38% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,445 a month. 37.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | University | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $298,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,445 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $59,852 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 37.4% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in University
| People | University | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 20.4 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 5.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.0% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.0% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.8% | — |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in University
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 51.8°F. About 51.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 111 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of University since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 19, 1981 about 6.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 7, 2005.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, 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 Orange County
Orange County had 949,918 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,805 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in University itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Towns near University
- Union Park, FL2.8 mi · 10,452 people · home $324,800
- Alafaya, FL4.2 mi · 92,452 people · home $425,500
- Oviedo, FL5.1 mi · 40,059 people · home $454,000
- Goldenrod, FL5.7 mi · 13,431 people · home $358,700
- Chuluota, FL6.1 mi · 2,524 people · home $362,100
- Rio Pinar, FL6.1 mi · 5,409 people · home $389,500
- Azalea Park, FL6.5 mi · 14,141 people · home $283,500
- Bithlo, FL6.6 mi · 9,848 people · home $377,500
University questions
Is University, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, University scores better for retirees than 8% of Florida towns and quieter than 10%. 6.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 20.4).
How much does a house cost in University?
The median owner-occupied home in University is valued at $298,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,852, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,445 a month.
What is the weather like in University?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 51.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does University get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of University since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 19, 1981. 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)