Cottondale, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 822, Cottondale's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Cottondale is a small community located in Florida, within Jackson County. The total population is 822. It ranks as the 806th most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cottondale is 38.8 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 42.6 years. 12.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cottondale is $36,959. This is 50% lower than the state median of $74,568. It is also 54% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.4%. This is 126% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $79,200. Housing costs are 78% lower than the state median of $359,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Cottondale is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cottondale is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (77.3% vs 50.4%). The Hispanic or Latino population (5.1%) is well below the state average of 27.4%.

Education

12.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 65% lower than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 76.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cottondale, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 955 Census-designated places in Florida. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.