1st Advantage MortgageThe median Suwannee County household earns $56,658, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Suwannee County
- Housing costs in Suwannee County
- Household income in Suwannee County
- How Suwannee County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Suwannee County
- Counties near Suwannee County
- A Suwannee County household budget, worked through
- Suwannee County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Suwannee County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for Suwannee County
- Four steps for Suwannee County borrowers
- More guides for Suwannee County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Suwannee County
With an estimated 45,342 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Suwannee County ranks 44th of 67 in Florida for population. Packed into 689 square miles, that is close to 66 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Live Oak is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 6,985 people (15% of the county total).
Housing costs in Suwannee County
Renters in Suwannee County pay a median of $884 a month, 47% below the Florida figure of $1,669. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 36% of renter households here. Home values center on $171,600, or 3.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 75%. The median year built is 1991.
| Housing | Suwannee County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $884/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $171,600 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 35% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 15% | n/a |
Because most Suwannee County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Household income in Suwannee County
Half of Suwannee County households take in less than $56,658 a year and half take in more, 24% below the Florida median of $74,568.
| Band | Suwannee County | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +9.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.8% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.8% | -8.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -5.6 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 15.0% of Suwannee County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Florida. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.445 here. A household earning below the $56,658 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Suwannee County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Suwannee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by retail trade (19%). Compared with Florida, the county leans toward retail trade (19% against 12%). The survey's unemployment rate for Suwannee County averages 6.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Where residents work | Suwannee County | Difference from Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 18.9% | +6.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | -2.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.6% | -6.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Suwannee County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Suwannee County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 7,935 people, so roughly 82% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak | city | 6,985 | $59,375 | $903 | 7 mi |
| Branford | town | 950 | $44,313 | $901 | 16 mi |
Counties near Suwannee County
Distances run center to center, from Lafayette County at 18 miles out to Echols County at 37. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Suwannee County; Gilchrist County is highest at $63,523 and Madison County lowest at $48,485. Some neighbors are in Georgia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Suwannee County resident follows Florida rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suwannee County | - | $56,658 | $884/mo | 75% |
| Lafayette County, FL | 18 mi | $62,757 | $896/mo | 77% |
| Hamilton County, FL | 22 mi | $50,144 | $724/mo | 80% |
| Columbia County, FL | 22 mi | $59,205 | $976/mo | 72% |
| Madison County, FL | 34 mi | $48,485 | $874/mo | 73% |
| Gilchrist County, FL | 34 mi | $63,523 | $926/mo | 86% |
| Echols County, GA | 37 mi | $59,489 | $1,017/mo | 76% |
A Suwannee County household budget, worked through
Suwannee County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Suwannee County: $4,722
- 19% goes to median rent ($884)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $769 left for all other debt payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,241 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $884, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Suwannee County residents: age, schooling, coverage
17% of Suwannee County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Suwannee County | All of Florida | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.6% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.8% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Suwannee County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.1% |
| 60+ min | 9.4% |
Reading the Suwannee County data as a borrower
What the Suwannee County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Suwannee County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Suwannee County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 48% of Suwannee County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
Licensing and complaints for Suwannee County
Suwannee County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Florida guide.
Four steps for Suwannee County borrowers
Quick steps for Suwannee County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Florida.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Suwannee County
For statewide rules and data, see the Florida guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Suwannee County household make?
About $56,658 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 24% below the Florida median.
Is Suwannee County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $884 against $1,669 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Suwannee County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Suwannee 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 in a small Suwannee County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Live Oak, Branford.
Is the fit check different in Suwannee County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.