Population 252,608 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ocala
Household size in Ocala
| Period | Ocala | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.59 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Ocala has 2.47 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size is little changed from 2006–10, while the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Ocala
| Period | Ocala | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.3 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.8 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.0 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.7 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
Ocala skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 44.3, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Ocala
| Period | Ocala | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Ocala as they are nationally: 11.1%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Ocala
Renters in Ocala
| Period | Ocala | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.9% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.9% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.0% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.4% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Ocala own their homes; 25.4% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 49.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southwest.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Ocala
| Period | Ocala | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.3% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Ocala is close to the national rate: 10.6% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Florida as a whole (12.5%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.8 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Ocala
| Period | Ocala | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1990 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Ocala is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1993, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1990 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Ocala
| Period | Ocala | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $912 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $872 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $987 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,462 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$550 | +$724 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Ocala costs $1,462 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $550 a month since 2006–10, up 60%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 33.0% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Ocala
Bachelor's degrees in Ocala
| Period | Ocala | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.8% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.1% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.9% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.8% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Ocala (25.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.1 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Ocala
| Period | Ocala | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.8% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.3% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.5% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Ocala have finished high school as nationally: 90.5%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 5.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Ocala
| Period | Ocala | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.4 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Ocala than nationally: unemployment was 4.2%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 6.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Ocala compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala | 2.47 | 45.7 | 11.1% | 25.4% | 10.6% | 1993 | $1,462 | 25.8% | 90.5% | 4.2% |
| Silver Springs Shores | 2.80 | 42.8 | 19.4% | 37.8% | 7.8% | 1980 | $1,434 | 10.9% | 76.4% | 6.8% |
| Belleview | 2.59 | 42.5 | 14.3% | 25.1% | 11.8% | 1990 | $1,135 | 18.5% | 89.9% | 3.6% |
| Fellowship | 2.59 | 47.6 | 9.1% | 23.6% | 18.2% | 1990 | $825 | 23.3% | 94.7% | 4.2% |
| Burbank | 2.77 | 49.1 | 6.5% | 9.1% | 30.7% | 1989 | $1,187 | 23.7% | 90.2% | 1.5% |
| Silver Springs | 2.29 | 50.1 | 7.3% | 28.9% | 26.1% | 1986 | $1,090 | 17.2% | 86.8% | 3.2% |
| Lynne | 2.52 | 46.3 | 10.0% | 21.4% | 30.0% | 1985 | $1,061 | 19.1% | 86.4% | 5.4% |
| Ocklawaha | 2.39 | 46.0 | 11.4% | 18.7% | 15.2% | 1989 | $1,151 | 12.6% | 84.7% | 7.5% |
| Dunnellon | 2.50 | 53.0 | 9.9% | 12.4% | 15.0% | 1993 | $1,243 | 19.1% | 88.2% | 5.1% |
| Chatmar | 2.22 | 54.4 | 8.7% | 18.3% | 15.1% | 1989 | $835 | 10.1% | 87.1% | 12.1% |
| Romeo | 2.33 | 53.7 | 5.8% | 8.2% | 13.7% | 1995 | $864 | 17.0% | 82.9% | 0.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Oakland, CA · New Orleans, LA · New Braunfels, TX · New Bedford, MA · New Britain, CT · New Rochelle, NY · New Port Richey, FL · New Haven, CT · Milwaukee, WI · Mooresville, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Ocala. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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