1st Advantage MortgageThe median Okeechobee County household earns $57,984, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Okeechobee County by the numbers
- Income in Okeechobee County compared with Florida
- The Okeechobee County job picture
- What it costs to live in Okeechobee County
- How Okeechobee County compares with nearby counties
- Okeechobee County towns compared
- Budget math at the Okeechobee County median
- Okeechobee County households compared
- Before borrowing in Okeechobee County
- Checklist for Okeechobee County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Okeechobee County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Okeechobee County by the numbers
Okeechobee County is home to about 40,816 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 47th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Florida. It covers 769 square miles of land, or about 53 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (1 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Okeechobee, with about 5,479 residents, or 13% of the county.
Income in Okeechobee County compared with Florida
Okeechobee County households have a median income of $57,984 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 51st of 67 in Florida.
| Household income | Okeechobee County | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.7% | +6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +6.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.9% | -5.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -6.8 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. 18.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.446 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $57,984 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Okeechobee County job picture
The biggest employer of Okeechobee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 10% locally and 4% for Florida. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 24% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.7% of the total (6.0% statewide).
| Sector | Okeechobee County | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.3% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 12.0% | +3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.4% | +0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 10.3% | +6.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -5.5 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 it costs to live in Okeechobee County
A typical Okeechobee County rental runs $1,082 a month including utilities, which is 35% below Florida. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $193,000, a typical Okeechobee County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Cost | Okeechobee County | Florida figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,082/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $193,000 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 38.9% | 8.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 15% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How Okeechobee County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Okeechobee County's, from 27 to 49 miles away. Martin County leads the group on income ($82,943), Glades County trails ($45,870), and Okeechobee County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okeechobee County | - | $57,984 | $1,082/mo | 74% |
| St. Lucie County, FL | 27 mi | $71,457 | $1,585/mo | 79% |
| Highlands County, FL | 28 mi | $54,897 | $1,035/mo | 79% |
| Indian River County, FL | 29 mi | $73,491 | $1,357/mo | 80% |
| Glades County, FL | 35 mi | $45,870 | $886/mo | 85% |
| Martin County, FL | 37 mi | $82,943 | $1,569/mo | 80% |
| Osceola County, FL | 49 mi | $72,637 | $1,746/mo | 65% |
Okeechobee County towns compared
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Okeechobee County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 11,633 people, so roughly 71% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,149 in Taylor Creek to $57,044 in Okeechobee. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okeechobee | city | 5,479 | $57,044 | $1,061 | 11 mi |
| Taylor Creek | CDP | 4,457 | $38,149 | $1,563 | 13 mi |
| Cypress Quarters | CDP | 1,697 | $38,352 | $1,403 | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Okeechobee County median
Here is the Okeechobee County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $57,984 a year is $4,832 of gross monthly income
- 22% goes to median rent ($1,082)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $609 left for all other debt payments
- $1,092: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Okeechobee County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Okeechobee County households compared
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. 17.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Okeechobee County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.8% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.8% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.2% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Okeechobee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 16.3% |
Before borrowing in Okeechobee County
Based on the Okeechobee County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Okeechobee County. For the 17% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 24% of Okeechobee County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 39% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Checklist for Okeechobee County applicants
Steps that save money for Okeechobee County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Okeechobee County-area credit union.
- Verify the Florida license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Okeechobee County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Okeechobee County borrowers answers to the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Florida state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Florida guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Okeechobee County earn?
The median is $57,984; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Okeechobee County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,082 against $1,669 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Okeechobee County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Okeechobee County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Okeechobee, Taylor Creek, Cypress Quarters.
Does living in Okeechobee County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Okeechobee County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.