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CITY

Fort Meade

Florida · 5,379 residents (2025 est.) · 8.184 sq mi
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Part of the Lakeland metro area
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Notable rankings
#176Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-9.3%
The short version

Fort Meade has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $36,657. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $175,900. With a median age of 44.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 51% less than the Florida median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 84%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,225
−8%since 2000
from 5,691 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
638 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 695 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.7
+25%since 2000
from 35.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,379 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K6K6K6K1990201020202024Fort Meade
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$36,657
−39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,984 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,857
+67%since 2000
from $15,499 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
28.1%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.9%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
+30%since 2010
from 0.370 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade15.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Information10.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration5.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing3.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$175,900
+84%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$922
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.0%
−4.0 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
30.0% rent
Vacancy rate
19.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
64.9%
+30.4 ptssince 2009
from 34.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.8
+201%since 2000
from 1.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
35
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Meade on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic60.4%(3,440)
Black21.5%(1,224)
Hispanic / Latino17.2%(977)
Asian0.1%(5)
Other0%
Diversity Score69%(3,926)
2024
White, non-Hispanic51.4%(2,688)
Black13.2%(689)
Hispanic / Latino32.6%(1,704)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.8%(144)
Diversity Score76.4%(3,990)
Diversity Score
76
+11%since 2000
from 69 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
9.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
76.6%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 66.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
40.2 min
+95%since 2000
from 20.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 77.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.8%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.8%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.3%
−9.6 ptssince 2011
from 14.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
48.7%
−7.0 ptssince 2011
from 55.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.6%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
19.0%
−33.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
10.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.2%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2012
from 18.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
15.9%
−64.2 ptssince 2013
from 80.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
70.9%
+20.8 ptssince 2017
from 50.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
74.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 75.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
25.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2016
from 23.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Meade, Florida?

Fort Meade, Florida has about 5,225 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fort Meade, Florida?

The typical household in Fort Meade, Florida earns about $36,657 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Meade, Florida expensive?

In Fort Meade, Florida, the median home is worth about $175,900, and the typical rent is about $922 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Meade, Florida?

About 9.4% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Meade, Florida hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Meade, Florida?

About 21.9% of people in Fort Meade, Florida live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Meade, Florida grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Meade, Florida has grown since 1990. The population has added about 249 residents, a change of about 5 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →