Welaka wildlife and forest conservation project at Welaka, Florida, 1936
Welaka’s story
175 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1936.
- 1851Welaka is settled
WelakaFL
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Population
786
2025 Census estimate · +8.7% since 2020
Typical home
$262K
−3.3% in a year
Household income
$55K
median
Median age
53.5
years
Jobs based here
120
A commuter town
Is Welaka a good place to live?
27% of residents live below the poverty line in Welaka, where Florida’s towns sit at 11% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Welaka has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Welaka stand out
Where Welaka beats most towns.
Small town
786 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Welaka: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Welaka, and how to reach them.
PowerFPL14.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Welaka water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers92% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Welaka’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Florida you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePutnam Supervisor of ElectionsPutnam County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2023
ZIP code3219332193 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 17, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Welaka.
Natural hazards
Welaka faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 85% of U.S. communities. Since 2004, 13 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Welaka.
85risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesTornadoes
13
paid flood claims since 2004
11
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
With 0.4 jobs for every working resident, most of Welaka’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Welaka for work: only 4% work in town. Welaka’s average trip to work is 36 minutes, against 27 minutes in Florida’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. The median household income in Welaka is $55,000.
4%work in town
| Welaka | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 36 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $55,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.3% | 5% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Welaka4%
Jacksonville10%
Palatka8%
Gainesville4%
Crescent City4%
39 mi
median commute distance
120
jobs based in Welaka
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Housing
Homes in Welaka are worth about $262K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Welaka home is worth about $262,000, down 3.3% in a year, 30% below the Florida typical home. Welaka’s median rent is $1,050 a month.
$262KZillow home value
| Welaka | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,050 a month | $1,647 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 81% | 72% | 73% |
Typical home value
Welaka$262K
Florida$375K
−3.3%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in April
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Welaka
Welaka has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 92°, January nights drop to 46° and snow is almost unheard of.
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter48–70°
Spring58–82°
Summer72–91°
Fall63–82°
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
More of Welaka’s adults say their health is fair or poor than in the typical Florida or U.S. town
33% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Welaka. Among 637 Florida towns, just 2 have a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Welaka. 17% of adults report frequent mental distress in Welaka.
| Welaka | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 20% | 19% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 13% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 15% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 9.7% | 15% | 16% |
31 measures vs. Florida
3 better10 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Welaka | FL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 9.7% | 14.6% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 86% | 78.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 16.9% | 7.2% |
HCA Florida Putnam Hospital
11 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
1.5%conserved
| Welaka | Florida towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.9 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 1.5% | 3% | 4.3% |
1.5%
conserved · 15 of 969 acres
1.4 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Welaka
17pages on Welaka
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Welaka
About 3 of every 100 Welaka residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Florida.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Welaka for work
Where Welaka’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
120jobs based in Welaka
4%of working residents work in town
39 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Welaka
Town in the state of Florida, United States
Welaka is a town situated on the St. Johns River in Putnam County, Florida, United States. The town is part of the Palatka, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 714 as of the 2020 census, up from 701 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 26 ft
- ZIP code
- 32193
- Area code
- 386
Questions about Welaka
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Welaka, FL a good place to live?
Welaka has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.