United States › Florida › Highlands County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Highlands County Florida · 101,235 residents · 1,018 sq mi
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The short version
With 101,235 people, Highlands County is a county in Florida. The median age is 54.7, about 16 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. 76% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $120,500, having more than doubled since 2000. Households here earn about 24% less than in Florida as a whole.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 54.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 50.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
65K 76K 87K 98K 109K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Highlands County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $43,708
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,160 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $17,222 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 15.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.1%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.1%
Public administration 2.6%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$120,500
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$801
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $479 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 79.7% in 2000
24.1% rent
from 2.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.6 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 76.5%(66,814)
Hispanic / Latino 12.1%(10,542)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 64.7%(65,511)
Hispanic / Latino 20.7%(20,943)
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
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 36 more ancestry groups with data from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 74.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 76.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 45.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 18.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 25.6%(11,415)
Women 15+
Never married 19.4%(9,072)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 5.8%(577)
Gulf War (1990s) 9.1%(917)
Share of the 10,026 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Highlands County Head to head
Compare Highlands County to nearby counties HIGHLANDS COUNTY VS
Okeechobee County
Income $57,984 +33%
Home value $193,000 +60%
Population 42,608 −62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLANDS COUNTY VS
Glades County
Income $45,870 +5%
Home value $137,000 +14%
Population 13,270 −88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLANDS COUNTY VS
DeSoto County
Income $54,417 +25%
Home value $174,100 +44%
Population 37,078 −67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HIGHLANDS COUNTY VS
Hardee County
Income $60,489 +38%
Home value $153,600 +27%
Population 25,932 −77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Highlands County, Florida? Highlands County, Florida has about 101,235 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Highlands County, Florida? The typical household in Highlands County, Florida earns about $43,708 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 $120,500, and the typical rent is about $801 a month.
How educated are people in Highlands County, Florida? About 17.5% 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 16.0% 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 32,803 residents, a change of about 48 percent over that period.
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