Quick facts
| Tavares | vs Lake County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,490 (2025 estimate) | ||
| Growth since 2020 | 18.4% | -0.4 pts | +9.5 pts |
| Median home value | $254,500 | 20% lower | 29% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,496 | 6% lower | 10% lower |
| Median household income | $58,886 | 20% lower | 21% lower |
| Owner occupied homes | 76.8% | -0.8 pts | +9.2 pts |
Census survey figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; methods.
Living in Tavares
Tavares is a city in Lake County on an isthmus between Lake Eustis and Lake Dora.
Tavares is an incorporated city in Lake County, with its own zoning and rental rules.
Known for: City-owned seaplane base on Lake Dora; County seat of Lake County since 1887
How it has grown: Founded in 1880 and incorporated as a town in 1919. Source: Wikipedia, Tavares, Florida, accessed October 29, 2026.
Against the Lake County averages, the median value of $254,500 is below the county's $318,400; household incomes are lower ($58,886 vs $73,161); the Census median rent is $1,496, below the county's $1,586 and fewer homes are owner occupied (76.8% vs 77.6%).
If you like the numbers here, also look at Pine Hills ($253,300, $1,542), Lakeland ($249,400, $1,395), Port Charlotte ($269,900, $1,553).
Growth and housing
The Census estimates 22,490 residents in 2025, up from 18,995 in 2020: 18.4% growth.
The housing mix is 0% detached houses and 0% larger buildings.
Risks to price in
| Risk item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County average homeowners insurance with wind | $2,650 a year |
Buying a home in Tavares
| 2026 loan limits (county) | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA, one unit | $541,287 |
| Conforming, one unit | $832,750 |
| Median home value here | $254,500 |
Homes cost 4.3 times median household income here (Lake County 4.3, Florida 4.8).
- Conventional: the default for buyers with solid credit and 5% or more down.
- FHA: $286,787 of room between the median home and the FHA limit.
Investing in Tavares
Long term rentals
| Tavares | vs Lake County | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 23.2% | +0.8 pts |
Short term rentals
Vacation home share is below the county (0% vs 5.5%), so nightly demand here is thinner.
| 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 | 0% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 0% |
| Manufactured homes | 0% |
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.
- 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.