1st Advantage MortgageBrevard County households have a median income of $78,476 and median rent of $1,556 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Florida before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Brevard County
- Income in Brevard County compared with Florida
- Brevard County housing compared with Florida
- The Brevard County job picture
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Brevard County
- People and households in Brevard County
- Borrowing situations common in Brevard County
- A Brevard County household budget, worked through
- Steps before you apply in Brevard County
- Lender oversight for Brevard County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Brevard County
With an estimated 632,780 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Brevard County ranks 10th of 67 in Florida for population. Packed into 1,015 square miles, that is close to 623 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Palm Bay is the biggest of its 31 Census places, at roughly 130,132 people (21% of the county total).
Income in Brevard County compared with Florida
At $78,476, the typical Brevard County household income is 19% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Brevard County | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.3% | -1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.1% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.5% | +1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.1% | +0.1 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 39% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 10.2%, 2 points lower than the state's 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.457 here. For a borrower in Brevard 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.
Brevard County housing compared with Florida
Renters in Brevard County pay a median of $1,556 a month, 7% below the Florida figure of $1,669. 56% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 30% spend half or more. Home values center on $339,600, or 4.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%.
| Cost | Brevard County | Florida figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,556/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $339,600 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.2% | 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). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The Brevard County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 12% locally and 5% for Florida. The survey's unemployment rate for Brevard County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home. 4.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Brevard County | Gap to Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.4% | +7.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | -1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Osceola County is closest, 31 miles from center to center; the sixth, Okeechobee County, is 64 miles off. Seminole County leads the group on income ($85,761), Okeechobee County trails ($57,984), and Brevard County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevard County | - | $78,476 | $1,556/mo | 77% |
| Osceola County, FL | 31 mi | $72,637 | $1,746/mo | 65% |
| Seminole County, FL | 38 mi | $85,761 | $1,783/mo | 66% |
| Orange County, FL | 41 mi | $79,719 | $1,775/mo | 57% |
| Indian River County, FL | 42 mi | $73,491 | $1,357/mo | 80% |
| Volusia County, FL | 59 mi | $70,044 | $1,467/mo | 74% |
| Okeechobee County, FL | 64 mi | $57,984 | $1,082/mo | 74% |
Places inside Brevard County
31 Census places fall mainly inside Brevard County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 543,132 residents, leaving about 14% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Malabar has the highest median household income on the list ($128,698) and Cocoa West the lowest ($34,126), counting places with at least 500 residents. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Brevard County community.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay | city | 130,132 | $72,614 | $1,601 | 24 mi |
| Melbourne | city | 86,576 | $66,991 | $1,525 | 13 mi |
| Titusville | city | 49,385 | $66,192 | $1,334 | 20 mi |
| Merritt Island | CDP | 34,992 | $94,012 | $1,441 | 2 mi |
| Rockledge | city | 29,133 | $84,255 | $1,820 | 3 mi |
| West Melbourne | city | 28,795 | $92,986 | $1,845 | 17 mi |
| Port St. John | CDP | 25,120 | $87,736 | $1,771 | 14 mi |
| Cocoa | city | 19,554 | $63,105 | $1,274 | 7 mi |
| Viera West | CDP | 17,984 | $109,170 | $2,182 | 4 mi |
| Viera East | CDP | 12,570 | $92,467 | $1,681 | 3 mi |
| Cocoa Beach | city | 11,377 | $87,990 | $1,569 | 5 mi |
| Satellite Beach | city | 11,313 | $119,134 | $1,909 | 10 mi |
| Cape Canaveral | city | 10,006 | $67,276 | $1,318 | 9 mi |
| Indian Harbour Beach | city | 9,025 | $97,254 | $1,827 | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
People and households in Brevard County
34% of Brevard County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 9.8%, against 11.5% for Florida.
| Residents | Brevard County | Florida | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.2% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.7% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.8% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Brevard County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Brevard County
What the Brevard County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.7, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Tight rental budgets. With 56% of Brevard County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
A Brevard County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Brevard County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,540 gross per month ($78,476 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,556 uses 24%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $798 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Steps before you apply in Brevard County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Brevard County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Brevard County-area credit union.
- A Florida license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Brevard County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Brevard County, check the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Florida: Florida personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Brevard County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Brevard County earn?
The median is $78,476; 39% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Brevard County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,556 against $1,669 statewide, and 56% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Brevard County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Brevard County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Palm Bay, Melbourne, Titusville, Merritt Island, Rockledge and 26 more.
Does living in Brevard County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Brevard County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.