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Starke, FL

Stretch

Your dollar goes further in Starke, FL — everyday costs run about 17% below the national average (Cost Index: 83). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued at $224,472, well under the $303,400 US median. The local median household income of $46,291 tends to stretch further here than in most parts of the country.

Starke sits in the stretch zone: not impossible, but household feasibility will depend heavily on rent, down payment, debt load, and whether you are renting or buying. Start with the verdict panel, then compare scenarios before treating this city as affordable.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Starke.

Monthly Housing
$867/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
22%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$2,491/mo
After housing and debt · $830/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 35%
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Cost Index
83
Affordable
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$224,472
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $200,200
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$867/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$46,291
National: $78,538
Population
5,821
Purchasing Power
71
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
74 / 100
26% below average
Rent Index
64 / 100
36% below average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
Healthcare & Services
99 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
83
Affordable · 17% below average

Starke Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $224,472 and Florida's property tax rate of 0.86%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$46,291
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
22%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
4.8x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Starke looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Starke, FL

Est. Annual Property Tax
$1,930
Monthly Impact
$161
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.86%
National avg: ~1.00%

Florida Place Tax Context

Tax TypeFloridaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.86%1.00%
Top Income Tax RateNo State Income Tax~5.0%
State Sales Tax7.01%~5.0%

Compare Starke to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Starke, FL
83
64
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Starke, FL: 74
Rent Prices
64

FAQ: Living in Starke

Is Starke, FL an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Starke run about 17% below the US average (Cost Index: 83). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $224,472, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $867, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Starke fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $867, while local median household income is $46,291. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 22% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Starke, FL?+

Florida is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 0.86%. On a home worth $224,472, that translates to roughly $1,930 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7.01% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Starke, FL?+

The typical monthly rent in Starke is around $867. That's roughly 36% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $224,472, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Starke, FL?+

The median home in Starke is valued at $224,472. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,135/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 58% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Starke?+

Grocery prices in Starke are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Starke, FL like to live in?+

Starke is a small town with a population of about 5,821. The median age of residents is 33.8, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 39.39%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Florida

Use these city pages when you want to compare Starke against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly