In Tavares, a typical home is worth $254,500 and typical rent is $1,496 a month. Compared with all of Lake County, the typical home value is 20% lower and typical household income is 20% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $261,582 to $306,546.
Typical rent
$1,964a month
▼ 1.5% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, December 2021 to September 2026: from $1,628 to $1,964.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Tavares is in Lake County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lake County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Eustis, the typical rent is $1,135: 24% less than in Tavares ($1,496).
2
The typical home in Tavares is worth $254,500,20% less than in Lake County as a whole ($318,400).
3
The typical household income in Tavares is $58,886,20% less than in Lake County as a whole ($73,161).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Tavares
What homes there are in Tavares, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Tavares
Lake County
Florida
United States
Kind of home: Tavares and its comparisons
Measure
Tavares
Lake County
Florida
United States
Detached house
54%
68%
55%
61%
Attached house
3%
2%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
4%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
10%
10%
25%
19%
Mobile home
27%
16%
8%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
1%
0%
0%
In Tavares, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Lake County, 7.
In Tavares there are many mobile homes: 27% of homes; in Lake County, 16%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Tavares
Lake County
Florida
United States
Year built: Tavares and its comparisons
Measure
Tavares
Lake County
Florida
United States
Before 1960
8%
8%
10%
26%
1960–1979
21%
15%
24%
24%
1980–1999
26%
33%
34%
25%
2000–2009
19%
23%
18%
14%
2010 or later
27%
22%
14%
11%
The typical year built in Tavares is 1996, about the same as in Lake County (1997).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K23%
$100K–$200K15%
$200K–$300K24%
$300K–$500K33%
$500K–$750K4%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Tavares and its comparisons
Measure
Tavares
Under $100K
23%
$100K–$200K
15%
$200K–$300K
24%
$300K–$500K
33%
$500K–$750K
4%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
By price, most homes in Tavares sit under the FHA limit for Lake County ($541,287): about 95%.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99920%
$1,000–$1,49925%
$1,500–$1,99924%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Tavares and its comparisons
Measure
Tavares
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
20%
$1,000–$1,499
25%
$1,500–$1,999
24%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,769 a month
Lake County: $1,814 a month
Without a mortgage
$585 a month
Lake County: $584 a month
Owners with a mortgage
47%
Lake County: 56%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Tavares is $1,769 a month, near the figure in Lake County ($1,814).
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Tavares+76%
Lake County+76%
Florida+67%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Tavares+47%
Lake County+46%
Florida+42%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Tavares+30%
Lake County+34%
Florida+34%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Tavares and its comparisons
Measure
Tavares
Lake County
Florida
United States
Typical home value
+76%
+76%
+67%
+53%
Typical rent
+47%
+46%
+42%
+33%
Typical household income
+30%
+34%
+34%
+29%
The typical home value in Tavares rose 76% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Lake County (76%).
The typical rent in Tavares rose 47% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Lake County (46%).
Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 30%, while home values changed +76% and rent +47%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Tavares and its comparisons
Measure
Tavares
Lake County
Florida
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
10.3%
7.6%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.8%
1.4%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.9%
3.3%
3.4%
People per household
2.11
2.48
2.51
2.53
Drive alone
75%
72%
70%
69%
Carpool
12%
9%
9%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
9%
16%
16%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
On average, a household in Tavares has 2.11 people, fewer than in Lake County (2.48).
Carpooling is common in Tavares: 12% of workers get to work that way, against 9% in Lake County.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Tavares?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Tavares, worth $254,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 43% of the typical household income in Tavares, which is $58,886 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $89,463 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lake County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Tavares. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $8,908 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,087
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$249,890
Total interest
$359,533
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,298 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,374 a month
Tight
$1,374 to $1,767 a month
Hard
more than $1,767 a month
Your payment · 43%
Compared with the typical household income in Tavares ($58,886 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,693
Property tax
$176
Home insurance
$106
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$113
You need at least $8,908 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,087; principal and interest $1,693.
The city and its county
Tavares and Lake County
Tavares is in Lake County, Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Tavares
Map of Lake County, Florida, with Tavares marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Tavares
Lake County
Other cities with a page
Tavares's own numbers
Typical home value
$254,500
Typical monthly rent
$1,496
Typical yearly household income
$58,886
Households that own their home
77%
Effective property tax rate
0.83%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Lake County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,959
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+61%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
4.5%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lake County.
A typical home in Tavares is worth $254,500: 20% below the county and 29% below Florida. With the typical household income in Tavares ($58,886 a year), a typical home costs 4.3 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Tavares4.3 years
Lake4.4 years
Florida4.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Lake County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lake County rose 131% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lake County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Lake County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +7.7% +7.7% 2016
2017: +8.4% +8.4% 2017
2018: +10.7% +10.7% 2018
2019: +5.9% +5.9% 2019
2020: +4.8% +4.8% 2020
2021: +14.5% +14.5% 2021
2022: +23.7% +23.7% 2022
2023: +6.7% +6.7% 2023
2024: +4.4% +4.4% 2024
2025: +2.2% +2.2% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Lake County, Florida and the United States
Period
County
Florida
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+2.2%
−0.5%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+61%
+60%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+131%
+127%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Tavares next to Lake County, Florida and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Tavares$254,500
Lake$318,400
Florida$359,000
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Tavares$1,496
Lake$1,586
Florida$1,669
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Tavares$58,886
Lake$73,161
Florida$74,568
United States$80,734
See the full table
Tavares next to Lake County and Florida
Measure
Tavares
Lake County
Florida
U.S.
Typical home value
$254,500 ▼20% below the county
$318,400
$359,000
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,496 ▼6% below the county
$1,586
$1,669
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$58,886 ▼20% below the county
$73,161
$74,568
$80,734
Households that own their home
77% ▼1 points below the county
78%
68%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,118 ▼13% below the county
$2,433
$2,730
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.83% ▲0.07 points above the county
0.76%
0.76%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
58% ▼1 points below the county
59%
60%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lake County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Tavares
For a typical $254,500 home in Tavares, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Tavares's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,087a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$8,908
Cash to close
$16,543
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $113
Conventional, 5% down$2,041a month
Down payment
$12,725
Cash to close
$20,360
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $121
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,661a month
Down payment
$50,900
Cash to close
$58,535
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,897a month
Down payment
$38,175
Cash to close
$45,810
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Tavares
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,087
$8,908
$249,890
7.18%
FHA MIP · $113
$16,543
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,041
$12,725
$241,775
7.18%
PMI · $121
$20,360
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,661
$50,900
$203,600
7.18%
None
$58,535
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,897
$38,175
$216,325
8.18%
None
$45,810
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Tavares is $1,496 a month: 6% below the county. In Tavares, 58% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lake County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,959 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $37.67 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Lake County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,658
$31.88
$66,320
1 bedroom
$1,726
$33.19
$69,040
2 bedrooms
$1,959
$37.67
$78,360
3 bedrooms
$2,445
$47.02
$97,800
4 bedrooms
$2,856
$54.92
$114,240
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Tavares
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Tavares is in ZIP code 32778.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,570: $389 less than the fair market rent for Lake County ($1,959).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Tavares, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
32778
$1,330
$1,380
$1,570
$1,960
$2,290
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
32778 $1,570$1,960
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Tavares when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lake County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Tavares or Lake County. The ones below are statewide in Florida: they work in Tavares the same as in the rest of the state.
Florida Housing second loan with no interest and no monthly payments, repaid when you sell or refinance.Offered by Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
No legal help resource on our list is for Tavares or Lake County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Tavares and all of Lake County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Tavares?
The typical home value in Tavares is $254,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lake County it is $318,400.
How much does it cost to rent in Tavares?
Typical rent in Tavares is $1,496 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lake County is $1,959.
What is the FHA loan limit in Tavares?
Tavares uses the FHA limit for all of Lake County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Tavares?
The typical homeowner in Tavares pays $2,118 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.83% of the home’s value; in Lake County, the rate is 0.76%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Tavares?
There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lake County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
