1st Advantage MortgageIn Holmes County, Florida, the typical household earns $49,343 a year and the typical rent is $844. 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
- A quick profile of Holmes County
- What it costs to live in Holmes County
- What Holmes County households earn
- The Holmes County job picture
- How Holmes County compares with nearby counties
- Holmes County towns compared
- More Holmes County figures
- Reading the Holmes County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Holmes County median
- Lender oversight for Holmes County
- A Holmes County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Holmes County
With an estimated 19,513 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Holmes County ranks 55th of 67 in Florida for population. Land area is 479 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 41 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Bonifay is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 2,797 people (14% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Holmes County
Renters in Holmes County pay a median of $844 a month, 49% below the Florida figure of $1,669. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $110,200, a typical Holmes County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 76% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Holmes County | Florida | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $844/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $110,200 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 36.0% | 8.0% | n/a |
Because most Holmes 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.
What Holmes County households earn
The median household income in Holmes County is $49,343; statewide it is $74,568, so Holmes County runs 34% below Florida as a whole. Only 60 Florida counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Holmes County | +/- vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.9% | +11.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.2% | +5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.7% | -8.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.2% | -8.8 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 14.0% of Holmes County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Florida. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.435 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Holmes 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 Holmes County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 15%. Compared with Florida, the county leans toward public administration (9% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 86% drive to work alone and 30% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Holmes County share | +/- vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Construction | 11.3% | +3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | -1.7 pts |
| Public administration | 8.9% | +4.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.2% | +0.9 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.
How Holmes County compares with nearby counties
Geneva County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Coffee County, is 39 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Holmes County; Walton County is highest at $81,986 and Jackson County lowest at $49,149. The list crosses into Alabama, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes County | - | $49,343 | $844/mo | 76% |
| Geneva County, AL | 16 mi | $52,771 | $784/mo | 78% |
| Washington County, FL | 20 mi | $58,210 | $888/mo | 80% |
| Walton County, FL | 29 mi | $81,986 | $1,741/mo | 79% |
| Jackson County, FL | 36 mi | $49,149 | $865/mo | 76% |
| Houston County, AL | 37 mi | $58,626 | $945/mo | 64% |
| Coffee County, AL | 39 mi | $68,353 | $1,018/mo | 72% |
Holmes County towns compared
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 23% of Holmes County residents live in one of the 5. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonifay | city | 2,797 | $40,896 | $868 | 9 mi |
| Ponce de Leon | town | 780 | $77,798 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Esto | town | 375 | $45,313 | $950 | 13 mi |
| Westville | town | 253 | $73,750 | $669 | 6 mi |
| Noma | town | 237 | $45,972 | $650 | 14 mi |
More Holmes County figures
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Holmes County | Florida | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.5% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.5% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.0% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 14.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.0% |
| 60+ min | 14.8% |
Reading the Holmes County data as a borrower
Based on the Holmes County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Holmes County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Long drives. With 30% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Holmes County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 36% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 45% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Budget math at the Holmes County median
How much room does a median Holmes County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,112 gross per month ($49,343 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $844, takes 21% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $636 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Holmes County's.
Lender oversight for Holmes County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Holmes County, check the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Florida guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Holmes County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Holmes County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Holmes County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Florida license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Florida guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Holmes County?
$49,343 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,568 for Florida. It ranks 61st of 67 in the state.
What do renters pay in Holmes County?
$844 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
Which towns does the Holmes County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Bonifay, Ponce de Leon, Esto, Westville, Noma.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Holmes County or elsewhere in Florida, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Holmes County?
Start with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.