City Profile

Tallahassee, Florida

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Tallahassee, the capital city of Florida, is nestled in the state's panhandle and is known for its distinct character that blends Southern charm with a vibrant political and academic energy. Historically established as the capital in 1824, the city features a rolling landscape, a canopy of oak trees draped in Spanish moss, and a rich history preserved in its museums and historic districts. As the home of Florida State University and Florida A&M University, Tallahassee maintains a youthful, intellectually curious atmosphere complemented by the steady presence of state government operations.

About Florida

Florida, known as the "Sunshine State," offers a diverse character with a laid-back beach culture and vibrant city life, attracting a mix of residents including many transplants. Its economy, the fourth largest in the U.S. as of 2024, is driven by major industries such as tourism, real estate, agriculture, aerospace and aviation, financial services, and healthcare and life sciences. Living in Florida generally entails a cost of living slightly higher than the national average, though it varies by city, with an average annual cost around $50,689 per person. The climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters, with abundant sunshine year-round, fostering an outdoor-oriented lifestyle. Florida also boasts a tax-friendly environment with no state income tax.

198,000

Population

$58K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

58.3

Quality Score

How this 58/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 58 / 100	58.0	30%	17.4
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 92.0	53.8	25%	13.4
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $55,500 Income needed to live here: $50,000 Unemployment rate: 3.2%	61.9	20%	12.4
Growth	Population growth rate: 0.9% Job growth rate: 2.2%	55.8	15%	8.4
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 67 / 100	67.0	10%	6.7
Overall score				58.3

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 15 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Tallahassee is generally lower than the national average, making it an attractive destination for families, young professionals, and retirees alike. Housing costs, utilities, and grocery prices tend to track below major metropolitan areas in South Florida, offering a more affordable lifestyle without sacrificing modern amenities. While recent years have seen upward pressure on housing and rental markets due to population influx, the city remains competitively priced compared to other Florida capitals and economic hubs.

Average Rent

$1,350/mo

Groceries

$420/mo

Transport

$115/mo

Utilities

$175/mo

Healthcare

$230/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$40.00

Cinema ticket

$12.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$20.00

Monthly groceries

$380.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$140.00

Income

Salary Insights

Tallahassee's economy is heavily anchored by government administration, higher education, and healthcare services. Major employers include the state government, Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Regional Medical Center. The professional services, technology, and applied sciences sectors have also seen steady growth, supported by research initiatives coming out of local universities and innovation parks. The remote work scene benefits from a solid telecommunications infrastructure and a lower cost of living.

The average salary in Tallahassee is $58,000 per year. You would need approximately $50,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Accommodation & Food Services +2.40% Healthcare & Social Assistance +3.00% Professional & Business Services +2.60% Government & Public Administration +1.20% Higher Education +1.80%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

70°F

Avg Temp

☀️

91°F

Summer High

❄️

44°F

Winter Low

🌧️

38.70"

Annual Rain

💧

70.00%

Humidity

🌤️

243

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Tallahassee is primarily car-dependent, though the city is served by StarMetro, the public bus transit system, which provides routes connecting major employment centers and university campuses. Major thoroughfares like Monroe Street and Apalachicola Parkway facilitate driving, while designated bike lanes and walking paths continue to expand in downtown and Midtown areas. The Tallahassee International Airport provides regional connectivity with direct flights to major hubs.

21 min

Avg Commute

42.00/10

Transit Score

45.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Median home prices and overall cost of living remain below the national average per recent housing data.

Abundant natural beauty featuring extensive park systems, canopy roads, and proximity to state forests.

Strong local economy anchored by state government stability and two major universities.

High concentration of healthcare facilities and medical professionals relative to population size.

Vibrant cultural, arts, and college sports community offering year-round entertainment.

Drawbacks

Summer months bring high humidity and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.

Public transit options are limited outside of core bus routes, maintaining high car dependency.

Traffic congestion can spike significantly along major corridors during university semesters and legislative sessions.

Property crime rates in certain central urban sectors exceed national averages.

Job market diversity can be somewhat concentrated in public sector and education fields.

Head to Head

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Community Q&A

Questions about Tallahassee

What people ask about living in and moving to Tallahassee, Florida.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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