The Town FilesWhitfield, Florida
Community in Manatee County · population 2,989 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $470,500
- Household income
- $98,348
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 89
- Median age
- 40.6
Whitfield is a community of 2,989 people in Manatee County, Florida. The median home is worth $470,500, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 92% of Florida towns, easier by car than 91% of Florida towns.
How Whitfield 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 Whitfield is worth $470,500, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $98,348, which is more affordable than 44% of Florida towns. Median rent is $2,113 a month. 91.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Whitfield | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $470,500 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $2,113 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $98,348 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 91.0% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Whitfield
| People | Whitfield | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.6% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.7% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Whitfield
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 52.3°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
89 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitfield since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 31, 1958 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 30, 1999.
Severe weather in Manatee County since 1996
Manatee County has been included in 50 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 Manatee County
Manatee County had 143,894 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,844 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Whitfield itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Towns near Whitfield
- Bayshore Gardens, FL1.7 mi · 19,904 people · home $181,400
- South Bradenton, FL3.6 mi · 26,858 people · home $167,200
- West Samoset, FL4.2 mi · 6,482 people · home $212,800
- Samoset, FL4.8 mi · 4,146 people · home $196,800
- Longboat Key, FL4.8 mi · 7,505 people · home $1,022,100
- Sarasota, FL5.2 mi · 54,842 people · home $463,000
- Bradenton, FL5.5 mi · 55,698 people · home $309,400
- Kensington Park, FL5.8 mi · 3,697 people · home $328,600
Whitfield questions
Is Whitfield, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Whitfield scores better for retirees than 27% of Florida towns and quieter than 51%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Whitfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Whitfield is valued at $470,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,348, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $2,113 a month.
What is the weather like in Whitfield?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 52.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Whitfield get tornadoes?
89 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Whitfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 31, 1958. 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)