1st Advantage MortgageIn Lake County, Florida, the typical household earns $73,161 a year and the typical rent is $1,586. 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
- A quick profile of Lake County
- Jobs and commutes in Lake County
- Income in Lake County compared with Florida
- What it costs to live in Lake County
- Towns and communities in Lake County
- The counties around Lake County
- Debt-to-income at Lake County's medians
- Who lives in Lake County, in numbers
- Reading the Lake County data as a borrower
- Florida rules that apply in Lake County
- Four steps for Lake County borrowers
- More guides for Lake County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lake County
With an estimated 412,924 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lake County ranks 17th of 67 in Florida for population. Packed into 952 square miles, that is close to 434 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 28 Census places inside Lake County, Clermont leads by population with about 46,853; 14 of the 28 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Lake County
The biggest employer of Lake County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 14% locally and 11% for Florida. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 25% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Lake County share | +/- vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.9% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 13.6% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.7% | -2.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +1.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.1% | -2.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Lake County compared with Florida
The median household income in Lake County is $73,161; statewide it is $74,568, so Lake County runs 2% below Florida as a whole. That places it 25th among Florida's 67 county-level areas.
| Household income | Lake County | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.5% | -0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | +1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -3.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Lake County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. 8.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.432 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $73,161 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Lake County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,586 in Lake County versus $1,669 statewide. By the Census definition, 59% of Lake County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $318,400, about 4.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 78%. Half the housing stock was built before 1997.
| Measure | Lake County | Florida | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,586/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $318,400 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.3% | 8.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lake 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Towns and communities in Lake County
28 Census places fall mainly inside Lake County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 238,780 residents, leaving about 42% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Yalaha has the highest median household income on the list ($121,027) and Lady Lake the lowest ($46,074), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $946 in Lake Kathryn to $2,073 in Minneola. Live in one of these Lake County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clermont | city | 46,853 | $82,306 | $1,828 | 17 mi |
| Leesburg | city | 30,807 | $52,880 | $1,258 | 12 mi |
| Eustis | city | 24,119 | $65,373 | $1,135 | 7 mi |
| Groveland | city | 22,012 | $100,226 | $1,732 | 13 mi |
| Tavares | city | 20,463 | $58,886 | $1,496 | 3 mi |
| Mount Dora | city | 17,278 | $74,537 | $1,722 | 6 mi |
| Lady Lake | town | 16,675 | $46,074 | $1,387 | 17 mi |
| Minneola | city | 16,598 | $110,902 | $2,073 | 11 mi |
| Fruitland Park | city | 8,740 | $82,656 | $1,221 | 15 mi |
| Mascotte | city | 7,949 | $83,878 | $1,529 | 16 mi |
| Mount Plymouth | CDP | 4,604 | $90,041 | $1,164 | 11 mi |
| Umatilla | city | 3,854 | $71,077 | $1,950 | 12 mi |
| Astatula | town | 2,559 | $72,063 | $1,147 | 4 mi |
| Silver Lake | CDP | 2,350 | $78,601 | $1,276 | 7 mi |
The counties around Lake County
Sumter County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hernando County, is 51 miles off. Seminole County leads the group on income ($85,761), Marion County trails ($61,010), and Lake County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | - | $73,161 | $1,586/mo | 78% |
| Sumter County, FL | 22 mi | $76,508 | $1,269/mo | 88% |
| Orange County, FL | 29 mi | $79,719 | $1,775/mo | 57% |
| Seminole County, FL | 36 mi | $85,761 | $1,783/mo | 66% |
| Marion County, FL | 36 mi | $61,010 | $1,277/mo | 77% |
| Volusia County, FL | 39 mi | $70,044 | $1,467/mo | 74% |
| Hernando County, FL | 51 mi | $66,058 | $1,298/mo | 83% |
Debt-to-income at Lake County's medians
Lake County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,097 before taxes
- 26% goes to median rent ($1,586)
- $609: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,036 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Lake County, in numbers
College graduates make up 28% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Lake County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.8% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.9% |
| 60+ min | 10.8% |
Reading the Lake County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lake County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 25% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Lake County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 16% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Lake County's median age is 46.5. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 59% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Florida rules that apply in Lake County
Consumer lenders serving Lake County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Florida that is the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Florida: Florida personal loans.
Four steps for Lake County borrowers
Steps that save money for Lake County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Florida license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Lake County
For statewide rules and data, see the Florida guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lake County earn?
The median is $73,161; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Lake County rent compare with Florida?
$1,586 locally versus $1,669 for the state, 5% below.
What are the biggest places in Lake County?
By population: Clermont, Leesburg, Eustis, Groveland, Tavares. The county has 28 Census places in all.
Can Lake County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Florida county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Lake County residents?
The Florida Office of Financial Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Florida; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.