Ocala today
What this means
Values in Ocala are down 2.4% over the past year, now 7.4% below the Oct 2022 peak.
Permits January to September 2026: 367 homes, 38% fewer than 2025.
Rents are area estimates; check comps for the exact house. Sources and method: how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| Ocala | vs Marion County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,753 (2025 estimate) | ||
| Growth since 2020 | 12.7% | -5.1 pts | +3.8 pts |
| Median home value | $241,400 | 1% lower | 33% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,359 | 6% higher | 19% lower |
| Median household income | $56,376 | 8% lower | 24% lower |
| Owner occupied homes | 52.1% | -25.4 pts | -15.5 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 19.8% | -8.9 pts | -1.5 pts |
| Average commute (minutes) | 19 | 28% lower | 31% lower |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 9.9% | -3.6 pts | -4.3 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $1,723 | 5% lower | 37% lower |
Census survey figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; methods.
Living in Ocala
Marion County seat in North Central Florida, the Horse Capital of the World, grown around Fort King (1827) and founded in 1849.
Ocala is a city with its own government, located in Marion County.
Known for: World Equestrian Center; Silver Springs State Park; Ocala National Forest; College of Central Florida
Interstate 75 and several US highways run through the city.
Next to the rest of Marion County, fewer homes are owner occupied (52.1% vs 77.5%); more of the housing is in apartment and condo buildings (30.2% vs 6.6%); commutes are shorter (19 vs 27 minutes) and the population is younger (19.8% age 65 or older vs 28.7%).
If you like the numbers here, also look at Lakeland ($249,400, $1,395), Gainesville ($247,500, $1,296), Titusville ($266,600, $1,334).
Growth and housing
The Census estimates 71,753 residents in 2025, up from 63,663 in 2020: 12.7% growth.
| 2025 building permits | Ocala |
|---|---|
| Single family | 288 |
| 5 or more units | 379 |
| Total units | 703 |
| Per 1,000 residents | 9.8 |
The typical home here was built around 1984. The housing mix is 51.7% detached houses and 30.2% larger buildings. Households average 2.34 people.
Each year about 2.6% of residents arrive from other states.
Risks to price in
| Risk item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County average homeowners insurance with wind | $2,191 a year |
Insurers will want a four point inspection on most older homes here (43% predate 1980). Inspections
Flood, storms and jobs
Flood premiums in Ocala get a 35% discount in high risk zones because the city holds CRS class 3. Since 2000, flood insurance has paid $1,016,504 on 35 claims inside Ocala. The Marion County guide covers storms, flood claims and employers; 4.6% of county homes are in high risk flood zones.
Buying a home in Ocala
| 2026 loan limits (county) | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA, one unit | $541,287 |
| Conforming, one unit | $832,750 |
| Median home value here | $241,400 |
Homes cost 4.3 times median household income here (Marion County 4.0, Florida 4.8).
- Conventional: the most common loan in Marion County.
- FHA: the Ocala median of $241,400 fits under the $541,287 limit.
- VA: veterans are 9% of adults.
Investing in Ocala
Long term rentals
| Ocala | vs Marion County | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 47.9% | +25.4 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 9.3% | +0.2 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 35.8% | +4.4 pts |
Short term rentals
2.1% of homes are held for seasonal or vacation use (Marion County 4.6%).
| Short term rental taxes | Rate |
|---|---|
| County tourist development tax | 4% |
| State sales tax | 6% plus any county surtax |
Rules vary street by street; verify zoning and HOA limits early. State rules
Property types
| Housing stock | Share |
|---|---|
| Single family detached | 51.7% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 30.2% |
| Manufactured homes | 4.6% |
Nearby
Other Florida markets
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5 year estimates. 2020 to 2024.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates, Vintage 2025. July 1, 2025.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual. 2025.
- FFIEC HMDA Data Browser, originated loans. 2025 and 2024.
- LendingTree: 2026 FHA loan limits in Florida by county (HUD figures). 2026.
- Florida Realtors: FHFA sets 2026 conforming loan limits. 2026.
- Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research: 2026 local option tourist tax rates. 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, July 2026 Insurance Stability Unit report (average homeowners premium with wind, as of March 31, 2026). March 31, 2026.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. week of October 22, 2026.
- Wikipedia: List of counties in Florida. checked October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file. 2024.
- Wikipedia county article and statewide lists (colleges, teams, airports); Florida Defense Support Task Force installation map. checked October 2026.
- Wikipedia article for this place (history, setting, roads). checked October 2026.
- Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, middle tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted. September 2026.
- Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (county annual, metro and state quarterly, all transactions). through Q2 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, January to September 2026 and 2025. September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates. as of August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims (2000 to 2026). as of September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book (Community Rating System class). August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries (2000 to 2026). October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. 2023.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020 to 2024, median gross rent by bedrooms (B25031). 2020 to 2024.
- Hurricane landfalls: Wikipedia, List of Florida hurricanes (2000 to present). checked October 2026.
Estimates from public data; they change over time. General information, not investment, tax or legal advice, and not a loan offer. Methods and assumptions.