How many people live in Starke, and how many work in Bradford County?
The Census Bureau estimated Starke's population at 5,963 on July 1, 2025, compared with 5,985 a year earlier.[1] Bradford County as a whole was estimated at 28,307, up from 28,154.[2] The city figure covers Starke itself; the county figure covers all of Bradford County.
Bradford County's unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in August 2026, a preliminary figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.[3] In March 2026 the county's employers reported 10,509 jobs across 581 establishments, at an average weekly wage of $684.[4] Those are Bradford County figures, not Starke city figures.
Which industries employ the most people in Bradford County?
Among the private-sector industry groups the Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Bradford County, trade, transportation and utilities employed the most people in March 2026, followed by leisure and hospitality. State government public administration employed 1,078. The table shows the industry rows listed below; the Bureau did not disclose the private information and professional and business services figures, so their absence does not mean zero.[4]
| Sector | Jobs (March 2026) | Establishments | Average weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade, transportation and utilities (private) | 1,561 | 140 | $955 |
| Public administration (state government) | 1,078 | 11 | $1,025 |
| Leisure and hospitality (private) | 869 | 71 | $476 |
| Education and health services (private) | 557 | 58 | $838 |
| Construction (private) | 488 | 83 | $1,214 |
| Public administration (local government) | 427 | 9 | $1,058 |
| Natural resources and mining (private) | 271 | 19 | $1,612 |
| Manufacturing (private) | 232 | 17 | $1,360 |
| Other services (private) | 138 | 44 | $686 |
| Financial activities (private) | 137 | 32 | $922 |
How much traffic does US 301 carry at Starke?
US 301 runs through Starke as Temple Avenue (an FDOT segment description reads "US-301/SR-200/TEMPLE"). The Florida Department of Transportation counted an average of 17,900 vehicles a day in 2025 on the segment between SR 100 (Madison Street) and SR 16 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard), the highest of the three counts listed below.[5]
| Road and segment | Vehicles per day | FDOT station |
|---|---|---|
| US 301 (Temple Ave), SR 100/Madison St to SR 16/MLK Jr Blvd | 17,900 | 285002 |
| US 301 (Temple Ave), CR 100A/Edwards Rd to SR 100/Madison St | 16,200 | 285017 |
| SR 100, US 301/Temple Ave to W Pratt St | 8,500 | 285020 |
What is being built or planned in and around Starke?
These items come from public meetings reported by the Bradford County Telegraph in 2026. Each is a step in a process, not a finished project.
- Starke awarded a $5.86 million contract to extend water and sewer service to the US 301 bypass (reported September 8, 2026).[7]
- Chick-fil-A's site plan for a Starke restaurant was approved October 6, 2026; City Manager Drew Mullins said construction could start before the end of the year.[8]
- About 6 acres of farmland along US 301 near Lawtey is now designated for commercial use (reported September 30, 2026).[9]
- County commissioners took the first of two votes to rezone 7.67 acres near an RV resort to commercial (reported September 8, 2026).[10]
- County commissioners got a detailed look at a new economic development strategic plan; the Telegraph's report discusses the fairgrounds, the airport and the bypass (reported May 26, 2026).[11]
What are the property tax rates in Starke?
For fiscal year 2025-26, the Bradford County Board of County Commissioners levied 10.0000 mills and the City of Starke levied 4.3879 mills, both unchanged from 2024-25, according to the Florida Department of Revenue.[6] Other taxing authorities also levy millage and are not shown in this table. Starke's commission adopted a tentative $61 million budget for fiscal 2026-27 in September 2026.[12]
| Taxing authority | 2024-25 millage | 2025-26 millage |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford County Board of County Commissioners | 10.0000 | 10.0000 |
| City of Starke | 4.3879 | 4.3879 |
What the public data does not show
Our October 2026 research did not find a public series of commercial asking rents, vacancy or sale cap rates for Starke or Bradford County, so this page publishes none. Any rent or price for a specific property needs a current, property-level look.
The employment, wage and unemployment figures on this page are Bradford County figures. The population estimate and the traffic counts are for Starke.
What this means for tenants and owners
If you are a tenant weighing visibility, compare sites against the FDOT counts above; the Madison Street to MLK Jr. Boulevard segment has the highest of the three. If you want a new building, follow the bypass water and sewer contract.
If you own land along US 301, the 2026 commercial land-use approval near Lawtey is a recent example of the county's process. Without a public rent series, pricing a lease or a sale in Starke starts from the property itself.
Leasing, buying or selling commercial property in Starke? Start with the property and the plan.
Talk with MakaylaQuestions people ask
Is Starke, Florida growing?
Not inside city limits in the latest year. The Census Bureau estimated 5,963 residents in July 2025, down from 5,985 a year earlier, while Bradford County rose to 28,307 from 28,154. The 2026 approvals listed on this page involve US 301 and the bypass.
How much traffic does US 301 carry at Starke?
US 301 runs through Starke as Temple Avenue. FDOT counted 17,900 vehicles a day in 2025 between SR 100 (Madison Street) and SR 16 (MLK Jr. Boulevard), the highest of the three counts on this page.
What are commercial rents in Starke?
Our October 2026 research did not find a public source for commercial asking rents or vacancy in Starke or Bradford County. For a specific space, ask for a property-level rent analysis rather than relying on a citywide figure.
What is the property tax rate in Starke, FL?
For fiscal 2025-26 the Florida Department of Revenue lists 10.0000 mills for the Bradford County commission and 4.3879 mills for the City of Starke. Other taxing authorities also levy millage.
Sources
- City and town population estimates, Vintage 2025 (Florida), U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 2024 and 2025. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- County population estimates, Vintage 2025, U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 2024 and 2025. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Bradford County, FL (series LAUCN120070000000003), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 2026, preliminary. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Bradford County, FL, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Q1 2026 (March employment). Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Annual Average Daily Traffic, Florida Department of Transportation, 2025. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Table 1, Comparison of Taxes Levied, Bradford County, Florida Department of Revenue, Fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Starke awards $5.86 million contract to extend water, sewer lines to bypass, Bradford County Telegraph, September 8, 2026. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Chick-fil-A plan approved; work could begin by year's end, Bradford County Telegraph, October 6, 2026. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- County OKs commercial land use, zoning near Lawtey, Bradford County Telegraph, September 30, 2026. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Bradford advances commercial rezoning near RV resort, Bradford County Telegraph, September 8, 2026. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Plan offers look at future fairgrounds, airport and bypass development, Bradford County Telegraph, May 26, 2026. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Starke commissioners adopt tentative $61 million spending plan, Bradford County Telegraph, September 8, 2026. Accessed October 12, 2026.