Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Clewiston grades D− overall, ranked 589th of 634 in Florida, mostly because of schools and health. Its schools rank behind 95% of the state's. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 80% of the country. One bright spot: it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 86% of U.S. towns. Clewiston’s trail density is 1.4 miles per square mile, above both Florida’s towns (0.4) and U.S. towns (0.4). Clewiston has 7 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Clewiston Inn and Clewiston Historic Schools. Clewiston's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 92% of U.S. towns.
Where Clewiston beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Central Elementary School | PK–5 | 547 |
| Westside Elementary School | PK–5 | 480 |
| Eastside Elementary School | PK–5 | 477 |
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Florida), ordered by how far Clewiston is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 1,338 in 1940, 7,327 in 2020. The archive holds 17 old photos and papers going back to 1926 and 2 maps from 1971 on.
7 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Clewiston, 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 Clewiston.
Clewiston has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns, trades workers with LaBelle and other neighbors and has home values climbing faster than Florida’s.
6.3 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Sugarland Park, at 48 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sugarland Park | — | 48 |
| 2. Civic Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clewiston Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 679 | B− |
| Clewiston High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 966 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within FL on state tests and graduation
31% of Clewiston adults worry about having enough food, above both the Florida town median (15%) and the median of U.S. towns (14%). 26% of Clewiston adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance. Clewiston beats the Florida average on 1 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 16.
| Clewiston | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 15% | 14% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 14% | 8.1% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 25% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 20% | 19% |
| What stands out | Clewiston | FL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.8% | 9.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 24.6% | 12.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Home values rose 40% in five years, to about $248K, against 19% across Florida.
The median rent in Clewiston is $763 a month. The typical Clewiston home is worth about $248,000, down 1% in a year, 34% below the Florida typical home. 66% of households own their home in Clewiston.
| Clewiston | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $763 a month | $1,647 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 66% | 72% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
The Devils Garden weather station, 11 miles away, records that about 143 days a year reach 90°, more than in 97% of U.S. towns. January nights average 53.1°, milder than in 99% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 92.2°.
Clewiston has warm winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. Clewiston’s January low is 53°F. Snow is almost unheard of.
| Clewiston | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 53°F | 51°F | 22°F |
| July high | 92°F | 91°F | 85°F |
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Clewiston has about as many jobs (3,378) as working residents, but only 785 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 22 minutes, against 28 across Florida.
About one in 4 of Clewiston’s working residents works in town. Since 2013, Clewiston has lost 234 jobs, to 3,378 in 2023. The top destinations are LaBelle (10%), Belle Glade (6%) and South Bay (1%).
| Clewiston | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 26% | 5% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $57,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 63% of U.S. communities. Since 1998, 8 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Clewiston.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Clewiston's reported crime rate is well below Florida's. Among 111 Florida towns, just 5 have a lower property crime rate than Clewiston. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Clewiston | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 3.6 per 1,000 residents | 16.4 | 11.5 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 1.5 per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.7 |
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
None within 15 miles of Clewiston; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Clewiston residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Florida.
7 places in Clewiston on the National Register of Historic Places.
9 notable people were born in Clewiston.
City in Florida, United States
Clewiston is a city in Hendry County, Florida, United States. Its location is 80 miles (130 km) northwest of Fort Lauderdale on the Atlantic coastal plain. The population was 7,327 at the 2020 census, up from 7,155 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city in the Clewiston micropolitan area. The city is located on the south bank of Lake Okeechobee, and the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) passes through the edge of the city. It is home to the Clewiston Museum and the Dixie Crystal Theatre. The area has been home to Seminole tribe members and sugar plantations, with the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Indian Museum located 32 miles (51 km) south of the city.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Clewiston grades D− overall, better than 4% of U.S. towns and #589 of 634 in Florida. It grades C− for health and D for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D.
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 Steffon Bradford and Randy Dixon.
