Living in Ocala, FL
Small city in Florida
Ocala is a small city in Florida, home to about 65,000 people, with 391,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Ocala a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $257k and rents for $1,770 a month
- Low taxes: no state income tax, 0.72% property tax
- Dog-friendly: 5 dog parks within 9 mi
- Strong healthcare: 2 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
- Fewer graduates: 29% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
- Smaller job market: about 391,000 people live within 31 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Ocala ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Ocala: common questions
What is the cost of living in Ocala?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $257k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,770 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 95, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Ocala?
Florida has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 0.72% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Ocala safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.1× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Ocala?
Ocala is warm all year: winter days average around 72°F and summer days around 92°F.
Does Ocala get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes, flooding and tornadoes: 14 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.49 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Ocala?
The nearest major airport is SFB, about 62 mi away.
How Ocala scores
Each bar compares Ocala with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Ocala right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.