1st Advantage MortgageAbout 73% of Bradford County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $63,050. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Bradford County, FL: the basics
- How much Bradford County households make
- The Bradford County job picture
- Bradford County housing compared with Florida
- Counties near Bradford County
- Towns and communities in Bradford County
- Debt-to-income at Bradford County's medians
- Bradford County households compared
- Reading the Bradford County data as a borrower
- Checking a lender's license in Florida
- Steps before you apply in Bradford County
- More guides for Bradford County
- Frequently asked questions
Bradford County, FL: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bradford County's population at 27,885; only 50 of Florida's 67 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 294 square miles, that is close to 95 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Bradford County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 4 Census places inside Bradford County, Starke leads by population with about 5,877; 4 of the 4 are incorporated.
How much Bradford County households make
Half of Bradford County households take in less than $63,050 a year and half take in more, 15% below the Florida median of $74,568. In the state ranking that is 41st of 67.
| Households earning | Bradford County | +/- vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.1% | +6.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.7% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.0% | -8.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Bradford County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. 16.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.441 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Bradford County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Bradford County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. Public administration stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Bradford County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). Long commutes are common here: 34% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Bradford County share | +/- vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.4% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 9.5% | +5.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.1% | -4.8 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Bradford County housing compared with Florida
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $863 in Bradford County versus $1,669 statewide. 56% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $212,500, about 3.4 times the median household income. 73% of Bradford County households own their home and 27% rent.
| Cost | Bradford County | Florida figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $863/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $212,500 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 30.0% | 8.0% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Counties near Bradford County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (14 to 36 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Bradford County; Clay County is highest at $87,820 and Putnam County lowest at $47,934.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford County | - | $63,050 | $863/mo | 73% |
| Union County, FL | 14 mi | $64,146 | $894/mo | 75% |
| Clay County, FL | 18 mi | $87,820 | $1,551/mo | 76% |
| Alachua County, FL | 22 mi | $61,949 | $1,339/mo | 54% |
| Baker County, FL | 27 mi | $79,836 | $1,302/mo | 85% |
| Columbia County, FL | 33 mi | $59,205 | $976/mo | 72% |
| Putnam County, FL | 36 mi | $47,934 | $906/mo | 75% |
Towns and communities in Bradford County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Bradford County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 7,496 people, so roughly 73% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starke | city | 5,877 | $52,258 | $840 | 3 mi |
| Lawtey | city | 897 | $51,944 | $723 | 9 mi |
| Hampton | city | 499 | $42,344 | $796 | 6 mi |
| Brooker | town | 223 | $71,875 | $1,025 | 11 mi |
Debt-to-income at Bradford County's medians
Bradford County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,254 before taxes
- 16% goes to median rent ($863)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,892 total minus rent leaves $1,028
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,396 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $863, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Bradford County households compared
15% of Bradford County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Bradford County | Florida | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.2% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.6% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.6% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 19.3% |
| 60+ min | 14.8% |
Reading the Bradford County data as a borrower
Based on the Bradford County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Bradford County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 34% of Bradford County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 30% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Tight rental budgets. With 56% of Bradford County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Checking a lender's license in Florida
Bradford County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Florida guide.
Steps before you apply in Bradford County
Quick steps for Bradford County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Bradford County
The Florida guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Bradford County?
$63,050 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,568 for Florida. It ranks 41st of 67 in the state.
How much is rent in Bradford County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $863 a month; 56% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Bradford County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Bradford County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Starke?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Bradford County, such as Lawtey, Hampton, Brooker.
Can Bradford County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Florida county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.