Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Arcadia grades D− overall, ranked 623rd of 634 in Florida, mostly because of health and schools. On CDC health estimates it is near the bottom nationally. Its schools rank behind 96% of the state's. In its favor, it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 73% of U.S. towns. 32% of residents live below the poverty line in Arcadia, against 11% in Florida’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. On incomes, just 41 of Florida’s 774 towns do worse. Arcadia has 4 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Arcadia Historic District and Johnson-Smith House.
Where Arcadia beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Arcadia Historic District| Widest gap | Arcadia | FL |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 31.2% | 12.7% |
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Florida), ordered by how far Arcadia is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 799 in 1900, 7,420 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1880 and 3 maps from 1957 on.
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Arcadia, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 17, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Arcadia.
Arcadia has a longer frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns and fares better on crime within Florida than nationally, but it has poverty well above the Florida rate.
34% of Arcadia adults say their health is fair or poor. Arcadia beats the Florida average on 1 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 24. 22% of Arcadia adults report frequent mental distress.
| Arcadia | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 20% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 16% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| What stands out | Arcadia | FL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7% | 9.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 31.2% | 12.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Desoto school district. Two of its 10 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Desoto County High School, with 1,215 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 922 | C− |
| Desoto County High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,215 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within FL on state tests and graduation
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 88% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 45 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Arcadia.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The typical value, about $244K, is 8% below its September 2022 peak. The median property tax bill is $1,113, against $2,730 across Florida, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical Arcadia home is worth about $244,000, about the same as a year ago, 35% below the Florida typical home. 49% of households own their home in Arcadia.
| Arcadia | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 49% | 72% | 73% |
| Median rent | $956 a month | $1,647 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
At 29.8 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 59% of Florida’s graded towns.
Arcadia’s violent crime rate is 4.4 per 1,000 residents.
| Arcadia | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.4 per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 10.2 per 1,000 residents | 12.6 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
The Arcadia weather station records that the frost-free season runs about 324 days, longer than in 96% of U.S. towns. The Arcadia weather station records that about 114 days a year reach 90°, more than in 97% of U.S. towns.
Arcadia has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Arcadia is 92°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most working residents leave Arcadia for work: only 19% work in town. The top destinations are Port Charlotte (3%), Fort Myers (2%) and Venice (2%). Half commute less than 36 miles.
| Arcadia | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 19% | 5% | 8% |
| Median household income | $40,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
| Arcadia | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1.7% | 3% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Storybook Park | — | 3 |
| 2. McSwain Park | 0.1 mi | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Arcadia; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Arcadia residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Florida.
4 places in Arcadia on the National Register of Historic Places.
9 notable people were born in Arcadia.
City in Florida, United States
Arcadia is a city and county seat of DeSoto County, Florida, United States. Arcadia's Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its population was 7,420 as of the 2020 census, down from 7,637 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Arcadia, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area. The area has a history of ranching and citrus growing. Citrus greening hurt the area's citrus industry. The population is a mix of white, hispanic, and black.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
One town shares a border with Arcadia.
| Town | FL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia | #623 | D− | C+ | C | D− | D− |
| Southeast Arcadia | #628 | D− | B− | — | D− | D− |
Southeast Arcadia reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Arcadia with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Arcadia grades D− overall, in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns and #623 of 634 in Florida. It grades D− for health, C for safety and D− for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D−.
That is 4.5 years of the area's median household income ($54,417 across the Arcadia, FL area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.
9 notable people were born here, including Jay Garner and Ernie Clark.
