1st Advantage MortgageThe median Highlands County household earns $54,897, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Highlands County
- How much Highlands County households make
- What it costs to live in Highlands County
- Work, industries and travel time in Highlands County
- How Highlands County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Highlands County
- Room for a loan payment in Highlands County
- Highlands County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Highlands County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Highlands County
- More guides for Highlands County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Highlands County
With an estimated 105,702 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Highlands County ranks 36th of 67 in Florida for population. Land area is 1,018 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 104 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Sebring, FL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Sebring is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 11,382 people (11% of the county total).
How much Highlands County households make
Highlands County households have a median income of $54,897 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 56th of 67 in Florida.
| Income band | Share in Highlands County | Difference from Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.7% | +9.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.0% | +6.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.8% | -8.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -6.4 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 15.3%, 3 points higher than the state's 12.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.457 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Highlands County median.
What it costs to live in Highlands County
A typical Highlands County rental runs $1,035 a month including utilities, which is 38% below Florida. By the Census definition, 56% of Highlands County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $187,900, a typical Highlands County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 79%.
| Measure | Highlands County | Florida | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,035/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $187,900 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 35% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 15% | n/a |
Because most Highlands County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. 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?
Work, industries and travel time in Highlands County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Compared with Florida, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 21%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.4% in Highlands County. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 5.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Highlands County | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | +4.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -3.6 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -3.0 pts |
| Other services | 5.8% | +0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How Highlands County compares with nearby counties
Okeechobee County is closest, 28 miles from center to center; the sixth, Charlotte County, is 51 miles off. Charlotte County leads the group on income ($69,952), Glades County trails ($45,870), and Highlands County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands County | - | $54,897 | $1,035/mo | 79% |
| Okeechobee County, FL | 28 mi | $57,984 | $1,082/mo | 74% |
| Glades County, FL | 28 mi | $45,870 | $886/mo | 85% |
| DeSoto County, FL | 30 mi | $54,417 | $932/mo | 73% |
| Hardee County, FL | 31 mi | $60,489 | $962/mo | 71% |
| Polk County, FL | 47 mi | $65,978 | $1,363/mo | 70% |
| Charlotte County, FL | 51 mi | $69,952 | $1,464/mo | 84% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Highlands County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 23% of Highlands County residents live in one of the 3. Lake Placid has the highest median household income on the list ($47,018) and Avon Park the lowest ($36,485), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Highlands County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sebring | city | 11,382 | $44,184 | $1,019 | 11 mi |
| Avon Park | city | 10,057 | $36,485 | $921 | 20 mi |
| Lake Placid | town | 2,477 | $47,018 | $1,046 | 3 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Highlands County
How much room does a median Highlands County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $54,897 a year is $4,575 of gross monthly income
- 23% goes to median rent ($1,035)
- At 40%, room after rent is $795 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Highlands County's.
Highlands County residents: age, schooling, coverage
20% of Highlands County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 13.8%, against 11.5% for Florida.
| Indicator | Highlands County | All of Florida | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.4 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.5% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.4% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.8% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Highlands County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.5% |
What the numbers mean for Highlands County borrowers
Based on the Highlands County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 14% of Highlands County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Manufactured homes. 24% of Highlands County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 54, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Renters under pressure. When 56% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Highlands County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Highlands County borrowers answers to the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Florida: Florida personal loans.
More guides for Highlands County
The Florida guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Highlands County household make?
About $54,897 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 26% below the Florida median.
How much is rent in Highlands County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,035 a month; 56% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Highlands County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Sebring, Avon Park, Lake Placid.
Is the fit check different in Highlands County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Highlands County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Florida it is the Florida Office of Financial Regulation.