CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

29.16° N · 82.51° W · GEOID 1259450

Rainbow Lakes Estates

Levy County, Florida · part of the Gainesville, FL metro

Limited data population under 5,000

FloridaRainbow Lakes Estates, FLRainbow Lakes EstatesRainbow Lakes Estates

The short answer

Rainbow Lakes Estates is home to 3,762 people. Median household income is $50,429 a year and median rent is $1,030 a month, 24.5% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $160,400, about 3.2x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$1,030
25% below the median place
Median household income
$50,429
37% below the median place
Median home value
$160,400
50% below the median place
Unemployment
4.1%
17% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Rainbow Lakes Estates

  • 3% of residents were born outside the US, fewer than in 91% of the 1,842 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the 3rd-lowest of 465 Florida places.
  • After the median rent, and with prices for everything else adjusted to the US average, the median household has about $39,000 a year left, less than in 91% of places its size.
  • The median resident is 52.4 years old, older than in 94% of places its size.
  • Between the 2020 and 2024 surveys, rent rose 7.5% a year while household income rose 2.7%, so rent outran pay by more than in 88% of places its size.
  • 90% of homes are owner-occupied, more than in 90% of places its size.
01

Moving to Rainbow Lakes Estates

Levy County gains about 32.8 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in3,471
Moved out2,403
Net+1,068

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Gilchrist County, FL200160+40
Dixie County, FL11587+28

Within Florida, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within FloridaOther states

Income per tax return

Arrivals$58K
Leavers$45K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Levy County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
6.7% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.6% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Levy County report $58,300 a year in income on average; those leaving, $45,400, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$41,200 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,030 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,388 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $160,400.
Getting to work
39 minutes each way on average; 8.5% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
New Port Richey, FL matches it on character. Compare the two
Net movers per 1,000 people7
32.8
above the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving out7
$45,361
35% below the median place
Income of households moving in7
$58,302
17% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureRainbow Lakes EstatesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure6.7%17% above
Moved from another state1County figure2.6%30% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure32.8above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$58,30217% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$45,36135% below
02

What it costs to live here

Homeownership is 90.3%, 36% above the median place.

Rainbow Lakes Estates24.5%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$41,200
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
24.5%
20% above the median place
Home price to income
3.2x
16% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
25%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$38,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Rainbow Lakes Estates, $1,030 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.5 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Rainbow Lakes Estates, but easier on the budget

Close matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income.

PlaceRent to incomeMore left a year
Picture Rocks, AZ18.7% vs 24.5%$12,100Compare
Fussels Corner, FL20.0% vs 24.5%$7,000Compare
Houghton Lake, MI19.7% vs 24.5%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Rainbow Lakes Estates.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Rainbow Lakes Estates? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
90.3%
36% above the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
34.9%
31% below the median place
Vacant homes1
16.3%
130% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureRainbow Lakes EstatesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,03025% below
Rent to income124.5%20% above
Property tax rate10.8%10% below
Home price to income13.2x16% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure96.74% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$95441% below
HUD area median income4County figure$68,80036% below
Property tax paid (median)1$1,31560% below
Median home value1$160,40050% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure-3.1%below (median 3.2%)
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure65.8%28% above
Homeownership190.3%36% above
Renters paying 30%+134.9%31% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,38826% below
Vacant homes116.3%130% above
Median year built119840% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Mean commute1
39 min
57% above the median place
Income per person1
$25,372
37% below the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureRainbow Lakes EstatesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$50,42937% below
Income per person1$25,37237% below
Unemployment1County figure4.1%17% below
Average annual pay6County figure$46,46130% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure6.5%76% above
Jobs6County figure9,07094% below
Poverty rate111.9%11% above
Mean commute139 min57% above
Works from home1County figure8.5%32% below
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Homes with broadband is 74.2%, 20% below the median place.

Homes with broadband1
74.2%
20% below the median place
Median age1
52.4
34% above the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
13.9%
57% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher79.0% −14%
Born abroad2.5% −71%
No health insurance5.2% −19%
Household size2.5 +2%
All 8 people measures
MeasureRainbow Lakes EstatesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population13,7626646th largest
Median age152.434% above
Bachelor's or higher113.9%57% below
High school or higher179.0%14% below
Household size12.52% above
Born abroad12.5%71% below
No health insurance15.2%19% below
Homes with broadband174.2%20% below
05

Life in Rainbow Lakes Estates

4 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents0.0 −100%
Playgrounds per 10k0.0 −100%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k0.0 −100%
Libraries per 10k2.7 3.1×
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars17.6 −15%
Shops36.1 +19%
Arts, recreation and fitness4.0 −2%
Doctors' offices and clinics7.5 −63%
Child care centers2.2 −4%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8
7.5
63% below the median place
Students per teacher11
19.2
25% above the median place
Shops per 10k8
36.1
19% above the median place
All 16 schools and local life measures
MeasureRainbow Lakes EstatesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools11County figure1567% above
Public school students11County figure5,55413% above
Students per teacher11County figure19.225% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure17.615% below
Shops per 10k8County figure36.119% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure4.02% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure7.563% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.24% below
Parks per 10k90.0below (median 10.2)
Playgrounds per 10k90.0below (median 9.4)
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k90.0below (median 11.2)
Libraries per 10k92.7206% above
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
National Register listings10County figure469% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Average temperature is 70°F, 28% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Rainbow Lakes Estates. Larger places are fetched first.

Average temperature12
70°F
28% above the median place
January average low12
44°F
75% above the median place
Good air days14
88.7%
29% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureRainbow Lakes EstatesAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high12County figure91°F5% above
January average low12County figure44°F75% above
Average temperature12County figure70°F28% above
Annual precipitation12County figure53.2 in21% above
Natural hazard risk13County figure66.129% below
Hurricane risk13County figure91.630% above
Tornado risk13County figure58.728% below
Wildfire risk13County figure87.343% above
Heat wave risk13County figure53.141% below
Median air quality index14Metro figure3714% below
Good air days14Metro figure88.7%29% above
08

Rainbow Lakes Estates in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 25% of the median income in 2030, up from 25% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,030/mo (2024)$1,330/mo$1,090 to $1,620/mo+4.4%
Median household income$50,429 (2024)$63,500$53,500 to $75,000+3.9%
Median home value$160,400 (2024)$241,000$175,000 to $333,000+7.1%

The median home would be worth 3.8 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.2 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Rainbow Lakes Estates

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
New Port Richey, FL$1,193$47,606Compare
Homosassa Springs, FL$939$48,049Compare
Picture Rocks, AZ$960$61,634Compare
Beverly Hills, FL$1,199$46,488Compare
Beverly Hills, FLPicture Rocks, AZHomosassa Springs, FLNew Port Richey, FLRainbow Lakes Estates, FLRainbow Lakes EstatesNew Port RicheyPicture RocksRainbow Lakes EstatesNew Port RicheyPicture Rocks

Common questions

Is Rainbow Lakes Estates a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. 3% of residents were born outside the US, fewer than in 91% of the 1,842 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the 3rd-lowest of 465 Florida places. After the median rent, and with prices for everything else adjusted to the US average, the median household has about $39,000 a year left, less than in 91% of places its size. On cost, space and class size it scores 66 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Rainbow Lakes Estates expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 24.5% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $160,400.

What salary do you need to live in Rainbow Lakes Estates?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $41,200 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Rainbow Lakes Estates?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are New Port Richey, FL, Homosassa Springs, FL, Picture Rocks, AZ and Beverly Hills, FL.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  12. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Rainbow Lakes Estates with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Rainbow Lakes Estates itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/rainbow-lakes-estates-florida

Citytistics. “Rainbow Lakes Estates, Florida.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/rainbow-lakes-estates-florida/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.