Tavares (, tuh-VAIR-ees) is a city and the county seat of Lake County, Florida. Its population at the 2020 census was 19,003. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford metropolitan statistical area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Tavares ranks

All →

#66Fastest growing in FL #47Most new homes in FL #156Highest graduation rate in FL All FL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code32778

Area code352

Living in Tavares

Housing in Tavares

$309K▼ 1.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Tavares home is worth about $309,000, down 1.9% in a year, 18% below the Florida typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market72

Sale-to-list98%

Sold in May39

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Tavares

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Tavares's police department reported only 2023 and 2024, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Tavares 0.6

Florida 2.6

U.S. 3.6

Property crime per 1,000

Tavares 2.4

Florida 12.6

U.S. 17.7

FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Tavares

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Tavares for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are Orlando (8%), Leesburg (5%) and Mount Dora (4%). Half commute less than 22 miles.

Orlando

Leesburg

Mount Dora

Eustis

17%Work in townlive and work in Tavares 22 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 17,444Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Tavares →

Health in Tavares

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 39% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 63% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Florida

2better than FL·9worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits all close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind 1▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

82.6%More adults treating high blood pressureFL 78.4% · better 88.7%More adults getting cholesterol checkedFL 87% · better 10.1%More adults with COPDFL 7.2% · worse

Care nearby

Uf Health Leesburg HospitalLeesburg · 7.4 mi · ER

Community Health Centers-Tavares Family Medical and DentalTavares · 3.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Tavares · CMS · HRSAHealth in Tavares →

Natural hazards in Tavares

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 50% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌀 Hurricanes🌪️ Tornadoes

5Does Tavares flood?paid flood claims since 2002 11Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Tavares

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Tavares →

Climate in Tavares

Full climate →

Tavares has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 47°, and snow is almost unheard of.

72° / 49°Winter

83° / 59°Spring

91° / 72°Summer

84° / 64°Fall

How much snow does Tavares get?Almost none.Rain & snow →Does it ever freeze?In about 67% of years.Frost →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.5° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Tavares →

Schools in Tavares

All Tavares schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Tavares’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 53% of Florida’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#240Best public schoolsof 488 in FL

DistrictLAKESchools8

Pinecrest Academy Tavares AElementary · Grades K–8 · 972 students Tavares Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 870 students Tavares Middle School C+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 933 students Tavares High School CHigh · Grades 9–12 · 1,458 students Lake County Acer ProgramHigh · Grades 6–12 · 5 students Nonschool Exceptional EducationOther · Grades PK–12 · 18 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within FL. Ratings are from neighbors.