1st Advantage MortgageIn Indian River County, Florida, the typical household earns $73,491 a year and the typical rent is $1,357. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Indian River County offer.
On this page
- Indian River County in brief
- What it costs to live in Indian River County
- Jobs and commutes in Indian River County
- What Indian River County households earn
- How Indian River County ranks in Florida
- Indian River County, St. Lucie County and other neighbors
- Towns and communities in Indian River County
- $6,124 a month: the Indian River County median budget
- Local borrowing considerations for Indian River County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Indian River County
- Lender oversight for Indian River County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Indian River County
- Frequently asked questions
Indian River County in brief
Indian River County is home to about 166,936 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 31st most populous of 67 county-level areas in Florida. Packed into 503 square miles, that is close to 332 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Vero Beach South (30,344 people) heads the county's list of 16 Census places, 5 incorporated and 11 census-designated.
What it costs to live in Indian River County
A typical Indian River County rental runs $1,357 a month including utilities, which is 19% below Florida. By the Census definition, 57% of Indian River County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $351,500, or 4.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 80% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1991. Against the median U.S. county, Indian River County rent is 55% above.
| Home costs | Indian River County | Florida | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 80% | 68% | +12.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 60% | -3.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,357/mo | $1,669/mo | 19% lower |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 35% | -1.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 7.3% | 8.0% | -0.7 pts |
| Median home value | $351,500 | $359,000 | 2% lower |
In an owner-heavy county like Indian River County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. 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?
Jobs and commutes in Indian River County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Indian River County residents work in education and health care and 14% in professional and administrative services. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Indian River County. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. No car: 4.6% of Indian River County households.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Indian River County | Gap to Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.5% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.7% | -0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Indian River County households earn
$73,491 is the median household income for Indian River County, set against $74,568 for Florida.
| Income band | Share in Indian River County | Difference from Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.8% | -0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.5% | +0.5 pts |
On the low end, 22% of Indian River County households report under $35,000; at the top, 35% report $100,000-plus. Poverty rate, Indian River County: 11.1%; Florida: 12.6%. Indian River County scores 0.498 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Indian River County median.
How Indian River County ranks in Florida
Ranked against the other 66 county-level areas in Florida, these are the Indian River County figures furthest from the middle.
- Median age: 55.3 in Indian River County. Only 4 of 67 Florida counties are higher. Retirement income counts when documented; favor loans with no prepayment penalty.
- The share of commutes over 45 minutes: 11% in Indian River County. Only 5 of 67 Florida counties are lower. Less driving means fewer surprise repair bills.
Indian River County, St. Lucie County and other neighbors
St. Lucie County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Highlands County, is 53 miles off. Indian River County's $73,491 median trails 2 of the six and beats 4; the range runs $54,897 (Highlands County) to $82,943 (Martin County).
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian River County | - | $73,491 | $1,357/mo | 80% |
| St. Lucie County, FL | 24 mi | $71,457 | $1,585/mo | 79% |
| Okeechobee County, FL | 29 mi | $57,984 | $1,082/mo | 74% |
| Brevard County, FL | 42 mi | $78,476 | $1,556/mo | 77% |
| Osceola County, FL | 42 mi | $72,637 | $1,746/mo | 65% |
| Martin County, FL | 44 mi | $82,943 | $1,569/mo | 80% |
| Highlands County, FL | 53 mi | $54,897 | $1,035/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Indian River County
The table lists the 14 largest of 16 Census places in Indian River County, by population. Together all 16 hold about 140,262 people, so roughly 16% of residents live outside any named place. South Beach has the highest median household income on the list ($193,594) and Gifford the lowest ($33,175), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $892 in Gifford to $3,501 in South Beach. Vero Beach South and every other Indian River County community use this county guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vero Beach South | CDP | 30,344 | $73,420 | $1,314 | 11 mi |
| Sebastian | city | 26,262 | $69,409 | $1,451 | 8 mi |
| Florida Ridge | CDP | 20,889 | $66,625 | $1,342 | 14 mi |
| Vero Beach | city | 17,042 | $69,758 | $1,221 | 12 mi |
| West Vero Corridor | CDP | 10,461 | $61,927 | $1,706 | 7 mi |
| Vero Lake Estates | CDP | 6,559 | $83,199 | $2,094 | 4 mi |
| Winter Beach | CDP | 4,985 | $92,394 | $2,295 | 9 mi |
| Fellsmere | city | 4,953 | $55,893 | $1,158 | 3 mi |
| Gifford | CDP | 4,668 | $33,175 | $892 | 9 mi |
| Indian River Shores | town | 4,386 | $156,037 | $2,185 | 12 mi |
| South Beach | CDP | 3,063 | $193,594 | $3,501 | 17 mi |
| Wabasso Beach | CDP | 2,262 | $115,739 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Roseland | CDP | 2,142 | $63,929 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Wabasso | CDP | 1,467 | $59,006 | n/a | 9 mi |
$6,124 a month: the Indian River County median budget
Indian River County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Indian River County: $6,124
- 22% goes to median rent ($1,357)
- Under a 36% cap, $2,205 total minus rent leaves $848
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,276 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Indian River County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Indian River County
- Retirees. At a median age of 55.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Indian River County rent burden. 57% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Indian River County borrower sees (free reports).
Age, degrees and coverage in Indian River County
Degree holders: 34% of adults over 25. Health coverage gaps: 10.0% of Indian River County residents are uninsured.
| Indicator | Indian River County | +/- Florida | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.3 | +12.7 yrs | +13.8 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.8% | -0.3 pts | +11.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.0% | -2.1 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.0% | -1.6 pts | +2.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | -1.4 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Work from home | 13.6% | -2.1 pts | +4.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | -1.5 pts | -2.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | -0.3 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
Lender oversight for Indian River County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Indian River County resident can confirm its license with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Florida guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Indian River County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Florida.
- Ask a Indian River County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Indian River County
Next step up from Indian River County:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Indian River County rank on income in Florida?
24th of 67, with a median of $73,491. The state median is $74,568.
Is Indian River County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,357 against $1,669 statewide, and 57% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Indian River County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Indian River County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live near Vero Beach South. Which guide is mine?
This one. Vero Beach South and the rest of Indian River County have no separate city guide.
Will a Indian River County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Florida as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.