1st Advantage MortgageAbout 57% of Orange County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $79,719. 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
- Orange County at a glance
- Household income in Orange County
- Employment and commuting in Orange County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Orange County
- Towns and communities in Orange County
- Orange County and the counties next door
- What a median Orange County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Orange County
- Orange County households compared
- Who licenses lenders for Orange County residents
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Orange County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Orange County's population at 1,471,937; only 4 of Florida's 67 county-level areas are larger. It covers 903 square miles of land, or about 1,630 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metropolitan area. Of the 51 Census places inside Orange County, Orlando leads by population with about 319,758; 13 of the 51 are incorporated.
Household income in Orange County
Half of Orange County households take in less than $79,719 a year and half take in more, 7% above the Florida median of $74,568.
| Income band | Share in Orange County | Difference from Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | -1.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | -1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.5% | +1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.2% | +1.2 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 40% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 13.0%, the same as the state's 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.478 here. For a borrower in Orange 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.
Employment and commuting in Orange County
The biggest employer of Orange County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (16%). Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.5% in Orange County. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 18% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Orange County | Gap to Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 16.3% | +5.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.7% | +1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.0% | -1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | +0.5 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Orange County
A typical Orange County rental runs $1,775 a month including utilities, which is 6% above Florida. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 59% of renter households here. Home values center on $390,100, or 4.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 57% of homes. The median year built is 1994.
| Cost | Orange County | Florida figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,775/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $390,100 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 57% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.1% | 8.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 15% | n/a |
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?
Towns and communities in Orange County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 51 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 82% of Orange County residents live in one of the 51. Incomes vary by place: $182,500 at the median in Lake Butler, $32,768 in Eatonville. Rent is cheapest in Zellwood ($1,076) and steepest in Windermere ($3,107). One of them, Orlando, has a separate city guide (linked); for the rest, this is the local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | city | 319,758 | $72,336 | $1,747 | 8 mi |
| Alafaya | CDP | 92,449 | $100,950 | $1,999 | 8 mi |
| Pine Hills | CDP | 80,105 | $58,673 | $1,542 | 10 mi |
| Horizon West | CDP | 67,416 | $127,335 | $2,464 | 18 mi |
| Four Corners | CDP | 65,048 | $72,879 | $1,847 | 23 mi |
| Apopka | city | 58,232 | $96,884 | $1,969 | 18 mi |
| Ocoee | city | 49,033 | $98,911 | $1,946 | 13 mi |
| Winter Garden | city | 47,872 | $106,495 | $1,963 | 17 mi |
| Meadow Woods | CDP | 42,852 | $82,744 | $1,906 | 10 mi |
| University | CDP | 41,902 | $59,852 | $1,445 | 9 mi |
| Winter Park | city | 30,274 | $105,724 | $1,738 | 6 mi |
| Oak Ridge | CDP | 23,364 | $54,685 | $1,466 | 6 mi |
| Hunters Creek | CDP | 22,819 | $99,195 | $2,088 | 13 mi |
| Maitland | city | 19,469 | $97,150 | $2,071 | 9 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Orange County and the counties next door
Seminole County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Polk County, is 45 miles off. Seminole County leads the group on income ($85,761), Polk County trails ($65,978), and Orange County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County | - | $79,719 | $1,775/mo | 57% |
| Seminole County, FL | 17 mi | $85,761 | $1,783/mo | 66% |
| Lake County, FL | 29 mi | $73,161 | $1,586/mo | 78% |
| Osceola County, FL | 33 mi | $72,637 | $1,746/mo | 65% |
| Volusia County, FL | 39 mi | $70,044 | $1,467/mo | 74% |
| Brevard County, FL | 41 mi | $78,476 | $1,556/mo | 77% |
| Polk County, FL | 45 mi | $65,978 | $1,363/mo | 70% |
What a median Orange County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Orange County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $79,719 a year is $6,643 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,775, or 27 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $617 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,775, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Orange County
Where the Orange County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 12% of Orange County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- 59% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Orange County households compared
39% of Orange County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 12.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Orange County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.3% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.0% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.7% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 16.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.5% |
Who licenses lenders for Orange County residents
Consumer lenders serving Orange County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Florida that is the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Florida state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Orange County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Orange County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of Orange County:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Orange County?
$79,719 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,568 for Florida. It ranks 15th of 67 in the state.
Is Orange County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,775 against $1,669 statewide, and 59% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Orlando?
Yes, along with the other 50 Census places in Orange County, such as Alafaya, Pine Hills, Horizon West.
Is the fit check different in Orange County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Orange County?
Start with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.