Cost of Living in Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Santa Rosa County ranks #2,837 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 10%)
Sourced county brief
Santa Rosa County Official GRAPI Reported at 27.2 Percent
Santa Rosa County reported an official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) of 27.2% for the 2020-2024 ACS period. This value is 5.6 percentage points below the Florida unweighted county mean of 32.8%. The median gross rent was $1,544 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,304. Among owner-occupied households, the median home value was $329,800, and median selected monthly owner costs were $1,379. Both owner metrics are above their respective Florida unweighted county means of $284,325 and $1,039. The median income for renter households was estimated at $63,429. This analysis relies on the canonical rent-to-income percentage from ACS B25071, which describes the median percentage specifically for renter-occupied units rather than a derived calculation. 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: Santa Rosa County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.2% of renter household income in Santa Rosa County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,544 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,379. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $61,760 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. Santa Rosa County's $1,544 median is 18.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Santa Rosa County
Rent Burden
20.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,145
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.0%
of gross income
The median home in Santa Rosa County may be a stretch
Median home value is $329,800. Estimated monthly cost: $2,633 vs. your max of $2,145.
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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