Cost of Living in Leon 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 Leon County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Leon County ranks #2,669 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 15%)
Sourced county brief
Official GRAPI in Leon County Estimated at 35.1 Percent
The official B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Leon County is 35.1%, a value that is 2.3 percentage points higher than the Florida unweighted county mean of 32.8%. Median gross rent in the county is $1,291 per month, which is $13 below the state unweighted county mean of $1,304. For residents in owner-occupied housing, the median home value was estimated at $301,800, while the state unweighted county mean is $284,325. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $1,241, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,039. The median income for renter households is $41,086. This report utilizes data from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 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: Leon County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 35.1% of renter household income in Leon 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 $1,291 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,241. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $51,640 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. Leon County's $1,291 median is 1.0% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Leon County
Rent Burden
23.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,547
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.5%
of gross income
The median home in Leon County may be a stretch
Median home value is $301,800. Estimated monthly cost: $2,409 vs. your max of $1,547.
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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