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COUNTY

Highlands County

Florida · 111,122 residents (2025 est.) · 1,018 sq mi
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Part of the Sebring metro area
The short version

Highlands County is home to 105,702 people in Florida. The median age is 54.4, about 15 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 20% of adults. 79% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $187,900, having roughly tripled since 2000. That trails the Florida median by roughly 26%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 54.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 66%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
105,702
+21%since 2000
from 87,366 in 2000
111,122 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
104 / sq mi
+8%since 2009
from 96 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
54.4
+9%since 2000
from 50.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
1,018 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
65K76K87K98K109K19902000201020202024Highlands County
2024106K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.1%(4,298)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.4%(4,641)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.2%(5,452)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.6%(4,876)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244%(4,254)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.1%(9,602)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.8%(10,351)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.6%(10,189)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.2%(13,988)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7417.2%(18,160)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8414.3%(15,134)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.5%(4,757)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,897
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,160 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,993
+92%since 2000
from $17,222 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.1%
+20.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.3%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 15.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.457
+11%since 2010
from 0.413 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$187,900
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,035
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $479 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 79.7% in 2000
21.4% rent
Vacancy rate
20.0%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.22 people
−7%since 2009
from 2.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
18.4%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
−4%since 2009
from 3.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
47
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76.5%(66,814)
Black9.1%(7,925)
Hispanic / Latino12.1%(10,542)
Asian1%(881)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic63.1%(66,703)
Black9.3%(9,819)
Hispanic / Latino22.2%(23,465)
Asian1.5%(1,598)
Other3.9%(4,117)
Diversity Score
68
+22%since 2009
from 55 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
31
−10%since 2020
from 35 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican9%(9,487)
Puerto Rican6.9%(7,289)
Cuban3%(3,156)
Central American1.3%(1,355)
Colombian0.4%(444)
Dominican0.4%(438)
Salvadoran0.3%(369)
Nicaraguan0.3%(354)
Spaniard0.3%(295)
Venezuelan0.2%(238)
Costa Rican0.2%(171)
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data
Guatemalan0.2%(169)
Honduran0.2%(161)
Panamanian0.1%(131)
Ecuadorian0.1%(120)
Argentine0.1%(104)
Peruvian0.1%(95)
Uruguayan0.1%(54)
Bolivian0%(20)
Asian origin
Filipino0.6%(639)
Asian Indian0.3%(307)
Vietnamese0.2%(256)
Chinese0.1%(111)
Thai0.1%(92)
Hmong0.1%(85)
Taiwanese0%(23)
Japanese0%(19)
Pakistani0%(13)
Kazakh0%(13)
Korean0%(7)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(36)
Chamorro0%(17)
Ancestry
German14.1%(14,931)
English12.9%(13,661)
Irish9.3%(9,798)
American8.9%(9,381)
Italian4.6%(4,892)
Scottish2.1%(2,271)
West Indian2.1%(2,251)
French1.9%(2,024)
Polish1.7%(1,757)
Dutch1.1%(1,210)
Jamaican1.1%(1,190)
Swedish1.1%(1,153)
+ 42 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.7%(788)
Haitian0.7%(777)
Norwegian0.7%(736)
Russian0.6%(594)
Welsh0.5%(525)
Hungarian0.4%(457)
Greek0.4%(446)
Canadian0.4%(394)
British0.4%(370)
Arab0.3%(266)
Danish0.2%(252)
Portuguese0.2%(209)
Austrian0.2%(206)
Finnish0.2%(178)
Czech0.2%(167)
Swiss0.1%(144)
Lebanese0.1%(123)
Brazilian0.1%(123)
Nigerian0.1%(118)
Belgian0.1%(102)
Slovak0.1%(99)
Egyptian0.1%(65)
Lithuanian0.1%(65)
Ukrainian0.1%(64)
Croatian0.1%(58)
Syrian0%(41)
Latvian0%(37)
Moroccan0%(29)
Romanian0%(24)
Slovene0%(20)
Turkish0%(14)
Serbian0%(8)
Israeli0%(7)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.5%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.6%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 74.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+59%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 76.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.6%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.4%
−7.0 ptssince 2011
from 13.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
43.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 45.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
67.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 64.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
15.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.3%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
51.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
10.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.1%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 20.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
13.8%
−4.7 ptssince 2013
from 18.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.7%
+19.1 ptssince 2017
from 67.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
94.6%
+9.3 ptssince 2020
from 85.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
87.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2020
from 86.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
78.8%
−2.8 ptssince 2016
from 81.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
17.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2016
from 15.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.6%(11,415)
Married57.2%(25,450)
Widowed4.9%(2,187)
Divorced12.3%(5,465)
Women 15+
Never married19.4%(9,072)
Married52.1%(24,401)
Widowed13.7%(6,405)
Divorced14.8%(6,916)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
13.8%
−4.7 ptssince 2013
from 18.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
35.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 34.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
21.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 19.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
38.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2020
from 37.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
20.8%
−3.8 ptssince 2020
from 24.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
5.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 4.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
53.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 53.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
54.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2020
from 57.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)9.1%(889)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)12.4%(1,217)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era48.7%(4,760)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War9.3%(906)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.9%(88)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 9,776 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Highlands County to nearby counties

HIGHLANDS COUNTY VS
Okeechobee County
Income$57,984+6%
Home value$193,000+3%
Population42,608−62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLANDS COUNTY VS
Glades County
Income$45,870−16%
Home value$137,000−27%
Population13,270−88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLANDS COUNTY VS
DeSoto County
Income$54,417−1%
Home value$174,100−7%
Population37,078−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLANDS COUNTY VS
Hardee County
Income$60,489+10%
Home value$153,600−18%
Population25,932−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Highlands County, Florida?

Highlands County, Florida has about 105,702 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Highlands County, Florida?

The typical household in Highlands County, Florida earns about $54,897 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Highlands County, Florida expensive?

In Highlands County, Florida, the median home is worth about $187,900, and the typical rent is about $1,035 a month.

How educated are people in Highlands County, Florida?

About 20.5% of adults age 25 and over in Highlands County, Florida hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Highlands County, Florida?

About 15.3% of people in Highlands County, Florida live below the federal poverty line.

Has Highlands County, Florida grown since 1990?

Yes, Highlands County, Florida has grown since 1990. The population has added about 37,270 residents, a change of about 54 percent over that period.

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

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Highlands County, Florida: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy