1st Advantage MortgageThe median Broward County household earns $77,633, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Florida license first.
On this page
- Broward County by the numbers
- Rent, home values and ownership in Broward County
- Income in Broward County compared with Florida
- The Broward County job picture
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Broward County
- More Broward County figures
- Before borrowing in Broward County
- Budget math at the Broward County median
- A Broward County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Broward County residents
- More guides for Broward County
- Frequently asked questions
Broward County by the numbers
With an estimated 1,977,129 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Broward County ranks 2nd of 67 in Florida for population. Land area is 1,203 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,644 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 37 places in the county (31 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Fort Lauderdale, with about 185,604 residents, or 9% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Broward County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,907 in Broward County versus $1,669 statewide. 65% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 35% spend half or more. Home values center on $414,600, or 5.3 years of median income. 64% of Broward County households own their home and 36% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Broward County | Florida | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,907/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $414,600 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 65% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 43% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.6% | 8.0% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Income in Broward County compared with Florida
Half of Broward County households take in less than $77,633 a year and half take in more, 4% above the Florida median of $74,568. In the state ranking that is 19th of 67.
| Yearly household income | Broward County | Gap to Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.0% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.5% | -1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.2% | +0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.2% | +1.3 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 12.2%, the same as the state's 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.488 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Broward County median.
The Broward County job picture
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Broward County residents work in education and health care and 15% in professional and administrative services. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Broward County. 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home. 6.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Broward County workers | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.4% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.3% | -0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | -1.0 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Palm Beach County is closest, 32 miles from center to center; the sixth, Martin County, is 62 miles off. Collier County leads the group on income ($90,045), Hendry County trails ($56,393), and Broward County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broward County | - | $77,633 | $1,907/mo | 64% |
| Palm Beach County, FL | 32 mi | $83,581 | $1,916/mo | 70% |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | 40 mi | $71,753 | $1,829/mo | 52% |
| Hendry County, FL | 48 mi | $56,393 | $1,003/mo | 74% |
| Monroe County, FL | 54 mi | $87,738 | $1,999/mo | 66% |
| Collier County, FL | 58 mi | $90,045 | $1,862/mo | 77% |
| Martin County, FL | 62 mi | $82,943 | $1,569/mo | 80% |
The communities that make up Broward County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 37 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of Broward County residents live in one of the 37. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,333 in Franklin Park to $198,669 in Parkland. Median rent ranges from $1,233 in Franklin Park to $3,346 in Hillsboro Beach. City guides exist for the linked Broward County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | city | 185,604 | $83,130 | $1,854 | 21 mi |
| Pembroke Pines | city | 173,194 | $85,104 | $2,046 | 15 mi |
| Hollywood | city | 155,082 | $67,203 | $1,653 | 22 mi |
| Miramar | city | 138,600 | $89,125 | $2,117 | 18 mi |
| Coral Springs | city | 136,103 | $93,602 | $2,084 | 14 mi |
| Pompano Beach | city | 114,147 | $67,195 | $1,724 | 22 mi |
| Davie | town | 108,346 | $87,250 | $2,066 | 14 mi |
| Sunrise | city | 97,918 | $77,652 | $2,140 | 13 mi |
| Plantation | city | 96,293 | $92,541 | $2,240 | 14 mi |
| Deerfield Beach | city | 88,093 | $59,730 | $1,774 | 23 mi |
| Lauderhill | city | 74,896 | $51,165 | $1,684 | 16 mi |
| Tamarac | city | 73,019 | $61,718 | $1,895 | 14 mi |
| Weston | city | 68,837 | $139,825 | $2,851 | 8 mi |
| Margate | city | 59,198 | $62,450 | $1,750 | 17 mi |
More Broward County figures
College graduates make up 37% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 12.5%, against 11.5% for Florida.
| Indicator | Broward County | All of Florida | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.7% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.6% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.5% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Broward County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 16.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.1% |
| 60+ min | 9.4% |
Before borrowing in Broward County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Broward County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 12% of Broward County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Broward County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Renters under pressure. When 65% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Budget math at the Broward County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Broward County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Broward County: $6,469
- 29% goes to median rent ($1,907)
- Under a 40% cap, $2,588 total minus rent leaves $681
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Broward County's.
A Broward County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Broward County borrowers:
- Price the Broward County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Florida borrowers.
- Ask a Broward County credit union about member loans.
Who licenses lenders for Broward County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Broward County resident can confirm its license with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Florida state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Broward County
Guides that cover parts of Broward County:
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Pembroke Pines, FL
- Miramar, FL
- Coral Springs, FL
- Pompano Beach, FL
- Davie, FL
- Sunrise, FL
- Plantation, FL
- Deerfield Beach, FL
- Weston, FL
- Florida state guide
Frequently asked questions
Is Broward County a high-income county?
Its $77,633 median ranks 19th of 67 Florida counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Broward County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,907 a month; 65% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Fort Lauderdale?
Yes, along with the other 36 Census places in Broward County, such as Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar.
Is the fit check different in Broward County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Broward County check a lender's license?
With the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.