The quietest town in Putnam County. Between Crescent City and the Volusia line. Lake Broward to the south, Lake Como to the southeast. The town where you can buy a piece of small-town Florida with Daytona Beach 55 minutes away and Palatka 30. This is the deep, honest read on buying here.
Pomona Park is one of the smaller towns in Putnam County — population around 903[1] — sitting just south of Crescent City along US-17, with Lake Broward to the south and Lake Como to the southeast. The town was originally established as an agricultural center and has gradually evolved into a quiet, less-than-800-citizen residential community[3]. There's no downtown to speak of — a few stores, a post office, a couple of churches. The appeal is the quiet, the lake access, and the unusual combination of being equidistant from Palatka and the East Central Florida coast.
For buyers, Pomona Park is the South Putnam answer. Where Palatka has its river city, Crescent City has its bass lakes, and Welaka has its riverfront fishing village — Pomona Park is genuinely quiet residential. The median home price sits around $230,000[2], USDA $0-down financing covers most addresses, and you can be on the Atlantic in Daytona in 55 minutes or in Palatka in 30. Trade-offs are honest: schools zone to Crescent City Jr-Sr High, retail is minimal, and the smallest day-to-day errands often mean a drive. If you want quiet, want lake access, and want a real Florida town that hasn't been suburbified, this might be the closest fit in the county.
Pomona Park is a very thin market — sometimes only 15–25 active listings — so the medians swing month to month based on whether a Lake Broward lakefront is in the active pool. We look at 12-month trends.
The honest read. The wide spread between data sources (Homes.com at $230K vs. January 2026 active median at $399K) reflects exactly how thin this market is — the median moves with the property mix on a given month. The most reliable number for buyers: median household income in Pomona Park is about $48,000, with town demographics that anchor the workforce-rental and first-home end of the market[1].
What this means for you. If you're a buyer, expect substantial negotiation room — sellers who haven't moved in 6+ months typically take 8–12% off list. If you're a seller, accurate pricing on day one is critical because the buyer pool is shallow.
Real listings, pulled directly from Northeast Florida MLS.
Southern Putnam County, on US-17 between Crescent City (north) and the Volusia County line (south). Lake Broward is just south of town, Lake Como southeast.
Pomona Park-area homes are zoned to the Putnam County School District, with elementary at Middleton-Burney in Crescent City and middle/high at Crescent City Junior-Senior High — the same zoning as Crescent City and Welaka. For 2024–25, every Putnam school graded C or higher and the district posted real FAST gains[8].
US-17 runs through town. North to Crescent City and Palatka. South to DeLand and Daytona. SR-100 east to Bunnell and Flagler Beach.
| Destination | Route | Drive time | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crescent City | US-17 N | 10 min | ~8 mi |
| Palatka (county seat, hospital) | US-17 N | 30 min | ~28 mi |
| DeLand | US-17 S | 35 min | ~30 mi |
| Daytona Beach | US-17 to SR-40 | 55 min | ~48 mi |
| Flagler Beach | SR-100 E | 50 min | ~38 mi |
| St. Augustine (historic core) | SR-100 E to SR-A1A N | 65 min | ~52 mi |
| Jacksonville (downtown) | US-17 N | 100 min | ~85 mi |
| Gainesville (UF / Shands) | US-17 to SR-20 | 95 min | ~75 mi |
| Orlando (Disney area) | US-17 S to I-4 | 95 min | ~88 mi |
| Welaka | SR-309 N | 25 min | ~18 mi |
Off-peak times via Google Maps and FDOT corridor data[5]. Daytona & Orlando: add 20 min for summer weekend traffic.
| Scenario | Home value | Homestead | Taxable value | Approx annual tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside town limits, homesteaded | $220,000 | $50,000 | $170,000 | ~$3,700 |
| Inside town limits, non-homestead | $220,000 | $0 | $220,000 | ~$4,800 |
| Outside town (unincorporated), homesteaded | $220,000 | $50,000 | $170,000 | ~$2,800 |
| Lake Broward lakefront, $400K, homesteaded | $400,000 | $50,000 | $350,000 | ~$7,800 |
Putnam County effective tax rate ~1.17% of market value — about $813/year on the county median home[10]. Inside Pomona Park town limits, add the small town operating millage. The Florida homestead exemption knocks $50K off taxable value; Save Our Homes caps annual increases at 3%[11].
| Cost line | Typical Pomona Park range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Property tax (monthly portion) | $235–$650 | Lakefront and second homes at the top. |
| Homeowners insurance | $1,700–$3,200/yr | Inland wind exposure. Older stock and manufactured priced higher. |
| Flood (Zone X non-waterfront) | $0–$600/yr | Not required. Cheap if voluntary. |
| Flood (Zone AE Lake Broward / Como) | $1,200–$3,200/yr | Required by lender on direct lakefront. Smaller lakes often lower premiums than St. Johns frontage. |
| Well + septic (annual) | $0 base; $150–$400/yr maintenance | Standard for most addresses. Pump septic every 3–5 years (~$350). |
| HOA | $0 | Almost no HOAs. |
| CDD | $0 | None. |
| Electricity (Clay Electric Coop) | $140–$260/mo | Clay Electric serves South Putnam. |
| Internet (Spectrum / Starlink / fixed wireless) | $60–$130/mo | Spectrum coverage limited; Starlink common. |
| Propane (if no natural gas) | $200–$700/yr | Most homes are all-electric. |
We send a hand-picked shortlist of Pomona Park, Lake Broward, and Lake Como listings matching what you're looking for — including off-market and pre-listing tips.
Lake Broward sits just south of town — small to mid-size lake known for clear water and outdoor recreation[12]. Lakefront homes typically have small docks or platforms. Quieter than Crescent Lake; ideal for paddlers and small boats.
Lake Como is southeast of Pomona Park — the unincorporated Lake Como community has a notable 20th-century history as a Black resort during segregation. Cottages, fishing camps, and modest lakefront stock.
The "downtown" along US-17 — town hall, post office, a few stores, churches. Older single-family stock on full lots. The first-time buyer pricepoint.
Big lots and 5- to 20-acre parcels east and west of town. USDA-eligible, A2 zoned (animals OK), and quiet enough you can hear the birds.
Manufactured on owned land is common in unincorporated areas around the town. The most affordable way into South Putnam.
The southern reach toward Pierson (Volusia County). Fernery country, large parcels, and the closest Pomona-Park-adjacent area to DeLand and Daytona.
Pomona Park has roughly 500–700 housing units within town limits[1], with several thousand more in surrounding unincorporated Putnam toward Lake Como and the Volusia line. The mix is older stick-built ranches, manufactured housing on owned land, and a small cohort of newer lakefront builds.
1,000–1,800 sqft. 3-bed-2-bath, carport. The standard stick-built inventory.
900–1,800 sqft on 1/4-acre to 5-acre lots. Common throughout the unincorporated zone. Financing trickier — we walk through it.
1,400–2,400 sqft. Concrete block, vinyl windows, often bigger lots. Cleaner insurance profile.
1,200–2,400 sqft. Concrete block or older wood-frame, often raised. Most have small docks or platforms.
1,200–2,500 sqft on 5- to 20-acre parcels. Often with barn, shop, garden plot.
600–1,200 sqft. Original Pomona Park farming-era homes — rare, often need work, but charming.
The Pomona Park market rewards three things: USDA fluency, well/septic homework, and patience. Here is our playbook.
1. Run USDA eligibility on day one. Nearly all addresses qualify for $0-down USDA Rural Development financing. We confirm with our preferred local lender in 24 hours.
2. Well + septic inspections are non-negotiable. Failing well: $4K–$8K to replace. Failing drain field: $8K–$15K. Both standard wear-out items here. We always inspect.
3. For manufactured homes, verify title status. Many manufactured homes still have a vehicle title (not real property). For a mortgage, you usually need to retire the title and tie it to the land. We catch this in week one.
4. On lakefront, walk the specific lakeshore. Lake Broward and Lake Como are different from Crescent Lake and from each other — water clarity, weed levels, access, and dock-buildability vary parcel-to-parcel. Tour before you write.
5. For acreage, confirm road type and zoning. County-maintained vs. private dirt road matters in heavy rain. A2 zoning typically allows everything; A1 is more restrictive.
6. We comp against the last 12 months of closed sales. Pomona Park is a thin market; active listings drift high.
7. We get fully underwritten before offering. Verified buyers often beat higher offers in slow markets.
Failing well: $4K–$8K replacement. Failing drain field: $8K–$15K. Standard wear-out items on older Pomona Park homes. We always inspect both.
If the home still has a vehicle title (DMV) instead of being retired and tied to the land as real property, conventional mortgages don't work. Paperwork problem, but it has to be done.
Lake Broward and Lake Como are different from each other and from any other Putnam lake. Walk before you write.
Many South Putnam back-road addresses are on private dirt roads with shared maintenance. Heavy rain can make them impassable. Confirm road type on the parcel ID.
Spectrum cable is patchy. Starlink works almost everywhere but costs ~$120/month plus equipment. Verify if remote work matters.
Crescent Lake, Lake Stella, Mount Royal Estates. The lake answer next door.
25 min northeastDeepwater river village across from Lake George.
30 min northThe hub. Hospital, college, riverfront, historic district.
55 min northwest"Between the lakes" — 28+ small lakes, the cheapest land in NE Florida.
20 min northLakefront community on Crescent Lake. Older cottages, mobile homes on owned land.
Putnam County Schools FAST gains. Crescent City Junior-Senior High (Pomona Park's zoned high school) shared in the district-wide 2024–25 academic improvement[8]. Every Putnam school graded C or higher.
USDA financing stability. 2026 USDA Rural Development income caps were updated; Putnam County household income limit for a family of four is approximately $112,000[13]. Pomona Park remains one of the most USDA-friendly markets in the area.
Lake Broward continues to draw outdoor recreation traffic. The lake is described in tourism materials as "beautiful with clear water" and "perfect for outdoor recreation and weekend relaxation"[12].
Florida insurance market. Through 2024–2025 the Florida property insurance market stabilized somewhat with new carriers entering. Premiums on older Pomona Park stick-built and manufactured homes are still rising but more slowly. Competing quotes from 3 carriers are now realistic on most addresses.
Median price trajectory. Putnam County overall up 4.0% YoY in January 2026[14]. Pomona Park specifically held steady with some lakefront-driven upside on Lake Broward and Lake Como.
For the overwhelming majority of Pomona Park, there is no HOA, no CDD, no community fee structure of any kind. The town has no master-planned subdivisions. There are no CDDs.
The few exceptions are very modest: a handful of lakefront associations with informal dues, and one or two condo developments. Outside those, the answer is just no — whatever you want to do with your property (chickens, livestock in A2 zones, manufactured home, metal shop, RV in yard, boat trailer, garden), you almost certainly can.
What you DO need to budget for: the Putnam County millage stack, well + septic maintenance, electric (Clay Electric Coop), and internet (Spectrum or Starlink). The total monthly cost stack on a $220K Pomona Park homesteaded home with USDA financing routinely lands around $1,250–$1,500/month all-in.
The Pomona Park median home price was $230,000 per Homes.com city guide data[2], with a May 2025 median list price of $250,000 per Rocket data[6]. January 2026 active list prices skewed higher to around $399K driven by larger lakefront and acreage listings[7]. Honest range: $150K interior to $500K+ lakefront.
About 903 residents per Data USA[1], with the town originally established as an agricultural center[3]. One of the smallest incorporated towns in Putnam. Median age 34.
Inside town limits, ~22 mills. On a $220,000 homesteaded home, expect ~$3,700/year. Outside town in unincorporated Putnam, the same home runs closer to $2,800[4].
Most non-waterfront homes sit in FEMA Zone X with no mandatory flood insurance[15]. Direct Lake Broward and Lake Como lakefront typically falls in Zone AE and requires flood insurance for federally-backed mortgages. Inland enough to avoid storm-surge concerns — wind and rain are the real hurricane risks.
From Pomona Park: Palatka 30 min north, Crescent City 10 min north, Daytona Beach 55 min south, DeLand 35 min south, St. Augustine 65 min east, Jacksonville 100 min north. The southern-edge location gives easy access to both NE Florida and East Central Florida markets.
Yes — nearly all Pomona Park addresses qualify for USDA Rural Development $0-down financing for buyers under the income caps (~$112K household for a family of four in 2026)[13]. One of the most USDA-friendly markets in Putnam County.
Almost none. No master-planned subdivisions, no CDDs, effectively no HOAs on single-family homes. A handful of lakefront associations may have modest dues. Most addresses: zero-HOA, zero-CDD.
In most of unincorporated South Putnam around Pomona Park, yes — A2 and R2 zoning typically allow animals, manufactured/modular homes, and outbuildings. Inside the formal town limits rules are slightly tighter. We confirm zoning on every property.
Lake Broward is described in tourism materials as "beautiful with clear water" and is used for paddling and small-boat recreation[12]. It's not a major motor-bass lake like Crescent — quieter and more suited to swimming, paddling, and casual fishing.
Run USDA eligibility on day one, inspect well + septic, walk specific lakeshore before any lakefront offer, verify manufactured-home title status, confirm road type, get fully underwritten before offering. Full playbook in section 12.
We're a local family team — Matt, Lindsey, and Holly Parham, brokered by Momentum Realty. We know which Lake Broward parcels have clean water access, which addresses qualify for USDA, and how to navigate the manufactured-home title questions that come up here. Call (386) 916-8707.
Tell us what you're looking for — first home, USDA $0-down, lakefront on Broward or Como, or acreage homestead — and we'll send the right listings and a no-pressure plan to close.
Lindsey usually replies the same day.
Every numerical claim on this page is footnoted to a primary or major-market source. Accessed 2026-06-30.