Moving to Palatka, Florida: The 2026 Data Guide

As of 2026-09-09, the median home sold in Palatka, Florida over the last 12 months went for $290,000 (67 closings across 68 communities in Momentum’s MLS record), about $171 per square foot for a median 1,627-sq-ft home built around 1989. Homes currently listed have been on the market a median of 41 days, and with 29 active listings against that sales pace the city is carrying roughly 5.2 months of supply. Sellers have been getting about 96% of their original asking price. That median is 28% below the median across Momentum’s Florida and Georgia coverage.

$290,000

Median sale (12 mo)

$171

Price per sq ft

$1,948

Est. monthly cost to own

41 days

Days listed (median)

5.2

Months of supply

49%

New construction share

What your budget buys in Palatka

Three price points from 90 recent Palatka closings in our record, each showing what actually closed within 10% of that price:

Around $175,000: the typical sale in this band was a 3-bed, 1-bath home of about 1,102 sq ft, built around 1956 (11 sales).
Around $290,000: the typical sale in this band was a 4-bed, 2-bath home of about 1,694 sq ft, built around 2004 (18 sales).
Around $328,990: the typical sale in this band was a 4-bed, 2-bath home of about 1,792 sq ft, built around 2025 (19 sales).

The real monthly cost of owning in Palatka

Take the median $290,000 home with 20% down at today’s 6.71% 30-year rate: principal and interest run about $1,499/month. Putnam County’s typical total millage is 16.89 mills, so after the $50,000 homestead exemption the property tax is roughly $4,053/year ($338/month) for a new owner — the seller’s capped bill on the listing will be lower and is not your number. Citizens Property Insurance’s average premium in Putnam County is about $1,345/year; private-market quotes vary with roof age and wind mitigation. All in, budget on the order of $1,948/month to own the median Palatka home.

For the full worksheet — taxes by scenario, the homestead exemption, and how the Save Our Homes cap works after year one — see the Putnam County property tax guide and our home insurance by county map.

Where people are buying: Palatka’s most active communities

The communities with the most closings in the last 12 months, with each one’s median sale and how long its current listings have been on the market. Every name links to that community’s own guide with live listings.

Community	Sales (12 mo)	Median	Days listed
Nobles Crossing	9	$326,990	19
Rudds	7	$291,720	147

Palatka by ZIP code

Sales and medians by ZIP over the same 12 months: 32177 (88 sales, median $265,500).

What’s for sale: property types, new construction, and age of homes

Of the last 12 months of sales, 80% were single-family homes. New construction accounted for 49% of closings, led by Nobles Crossing, Rudds, St Johns Harbor. The housing stock skews older: 29% of homes sold were built in 2015 or later and 43% before 1980.

Getting around from Palatka

Measured from the center of Palatka’s recent sales: St. Augustine is about 27 miles; Gainesville is about 40 miles; Ocala is about 43 miles; Downtown Jacksonville is about 48 miles. Distances are straight-line; drive times depend on the corridor and time of day.

Schools, taxes, and insurance: where to verify

School assignments change; check the Putnam County school grades page for the district’s current grades, and confirm zoning for a specific address directly with the district. Property tax figures on this page use Putnam County’s typical millage of 16.89; municipal and special-district millage varies inside the county. Insurance uses Citizens’ Putnam County average of $1,345/year; a wind-mitigation inspection and roof age can move a private quote a long way in either direction.

Palatka: the case for and against

What works in Palatka’s favor

prices run 28% below the statewide median in our coverage
homes move quickly (median 41 days listed), so well-priced homes get competition
49% of sales are new construction, so builder incentives and warranties are part of the market
insurance is comparatively manageable here (Citizens average $1,345/year)
no state income tax, and Florida’s Save Our Homes cap limits assessment growth once you homestead

What to plan for

property taxes reset to your purchase price, so never budget off the seller’s bill

Your Palatka relocation toolkit

Common questions about moving to Palatka

How much does a house cost in Palatka, FL?

The median sale over the last 12 months was $290,000 (67 closings), about $171 per square foot. Among recent closings in our record a quarter sold under $175,000 and a quarter over $328,990.

What does it cost per month to own a home in Palatka?

For the median $290,000 home with 20% down at 6.71%, roughly $1,948 per month including principal, interest, Putnam County property tax after the homestead exemption, insurance.

What are property taxes like in Palatka?

Putnam County's typical total millage is 16.89 mills. On the median home that is about $4,053 a year for a new owner after the $50,000 homestead exemption; the assessment resets at purchase, so the seller's bill is not a guide.

Is Palatka a buyer's or seller's market right now?

With about 5.2 months of supply and a median 41 days on market for current listings, conditions are roughly balanced.

Is there a lot of new construction in Palatka?

New construction was 49% of sales in the last 12 months, concentrated in Nobles Crossing, Rudds, St Johns Harbor.

Does Florida have a state income tax?

No. Florida has no state income tax, including on retirement income, and the Save Our Homes cap limits how fast a homesteaded assessment can rise.

Sales figures are Momentum Realty’s MLS record of closings in Palatka communities over the trailing 12 months (community snapshots as of their last refresh; price-band examples from the most recent closings on file); tax and insurance figures are Putnam County data. Estimates, not guarantees; verify before relying on them. General relocation guidance, not financial advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.