City profile
Lake City, FL
Columbia County · Population 12,515
Lake City is a town in Columbia County, FL with about 12,515 residents and a typical home value near $185,000. It is 60 miles from Jacksonville, FL, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
56°F
Summer avg
82°F
Sunny days / yr
228
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$184,900
Typical monthly housing
$1,138
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
79
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.87%
- State income tax (top)
- None
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Not taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 7.00%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Low · county score 70/100
Top hazards: Lightning, Hurricane, Wildfire
Nearest major airport
61 mi to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Republican · 25% Democratic / 75% Republican
Community
Population
12,515
Black population
32.5%
County
Columbia County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Part of the New Great Migration — a growing Black community in the South
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hurricanes, flooding
Highlights
- About 12,515 residents
- Typical home value about $185,000
- 60 miles from Jacksonville, FL
Trade-offs
- Smaller community with fewer local amenities
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.