1st Advantage MortgageLeon County households have a median income of $66,287 and median rent of $1,291 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Florida before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Leon County
- Employment and commuting in Leon County
- What Leon County households earn
- Renting and owning in Leon County
- Regional comparison for Leon County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Leon County
- Leon County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Leon County
- Room for a loan payment in Leon County
- Four steps for Leon County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Florida
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Leon County
With an estimated 297,542 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Leon County ranks 23rd of 67 in Florida for population. It covers 668 square miles of land, or about 445 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Tallahassee, FL metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (1 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Tallahassee, with about 201,875 residents, or 68% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Leon County
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Leon County residents work in education and health care and 14% in public administration. Public administration stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.7% in Leon County. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 7.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Leon County | Gap to Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.9% | +6.0 pts |
| Public administration | 13.9% | +9.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.7% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.0% | -3.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Leon County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Leon County households earn
The median household income in Leon County is $66,287; statewide it is $74,568, so Leon County runs 11% below Florida as a whole. That places it 35th among Florida's 67 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Leon County | Difference from Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.9% | +5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.0% | -1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.7% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.4% | -1.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Leon County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. Census counts 18.7% of Leon County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Florida. For a borrower in Leon 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.
Renting and owning in Leon County
A typical Leon County rental runs $1,291 a month including utilities, which is 23% below Florida. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 59% of renter households here. With a median value of $301,800, a typical Leon County house costs 4.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 53% of homes. The median year built is 1989.
| Leon County | Florida | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,291/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $301,800 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 53% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.9% | 8.0% | n/a |
For the many renters in Leon County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Regional comparison for Leon County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Leon County; Wakulla County is highest at $81,895 and Gadsden County lowest at $48,801. Some neighbors are in Georgia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Leon County resident follows Florida rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leon County | - | $66,287 | $1,291/mo | 53% |
| Gadsden County, FL | 22 mi | $48,801 | $851/mo | 71% |
| Jefferson County, FL | 22 mi | $61,212 | $898/mo | 76% |
| Wakulla County, FL | 26 mi | $81,895 | $1,108/mo | 82% |
| Grady County, GA | 29 mi | $58,980 | $779/mo | 66% |
| Decatur County, GA | 34 mi | $53,317 | $838/mo | 62% |
| Thomas County, GA | 35 mi | $60,736 | $1,018/mo | 64% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Leon County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Leon County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 226,908 residents, leaving about 24% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Chaires has the highest median household income on the list ($167,569) and Woodville the lowest ($53,772), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,022 in Woodville to $1,881 in Bradfordville. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallahassee | city | 201,875 | $57,409 | $1,293 | 2 mi |
| Bradfordville | CDP | 18,953 | $133,359 | $1,881 | 9 mi |
| Woodville | CDP | 3,722 | $53,772 | $1,022 | 10 mi |
| Fort Braden | CDP | 917 | $80,272 | $1,034 | 16 mi |
| Chaires | CDP | 588 | $167,569 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Miccosukee | CDP | 478 | $128,681 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Capitola | CDP | 375 | $34,430 | $625 | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Leon County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 49% of the adult population. 7.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Leon County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 48.9% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.4% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.2% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Leon County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 48.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Before borrowing in Leon County
Where the Leon County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Leon County loan.
- 59% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Room for a loan payment in Leon County
Here is the Leon County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,524 a month: gross income for a household at the Leon County median
- Less median rent of $1,291, which is 23% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $698 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Four steps for Leon County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Leon County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Leon County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Florida.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in Florida
Leon County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Florida guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Florida guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leon County a high-income county?
Its $66,287 median ranks 35th of 67 Florida counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Leon County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,291 against $1,669 statewide, and 59% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Tallahassee?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Leon County, such as Bradfordville, Woodville, Fort Braden.
Is the fit check different in Leon County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Leon County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Florida it is the Florida Office of Financial Regulation.