Cost of Living in Highlands County, Florida
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Highlands County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Highlands County ranks #1,590 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 49%)
Sourced county brief
Highlands County Monthly Owner Costs Median at $688
The median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units in Highlands County is $688, which is $351 below the Florida unweighted county mean of $1,039. The county's median home value was estimated at $187,900, significantly lower than the state unweighted county mean of $284,325. For renter-occupied households, the median gross rent is $1,035 per month. The official ACS B25071 GRAPI, which is the median gross rent as a percentage of household income, is 32.1% in Highlands County, compared to the state unweighted county mean of 32.8%. The median renter-household income in the county was reported at $35,573 for the 2020-2024 period. These data points provide a statistical snapshot based on the most recent American Community Survey. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Highlands County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.1% of renter household income in Highlands County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,035 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $688. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $41,400 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Florida unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,304 per month. Highlands County's $1,035 median is 20.6% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Highlands County
Rent Burden
22.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,281
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.0%
of gross income
The median home in Highlands County may be a stretch
Median home value is $187,900. Estimated monthly cost: $1,500 vs. your max of $1,281.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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