State rank#36 of 67
Smallest county105,702 residentsMiami-Dade County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 12055
Highlands County, Florida
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population105,702
Household income$54,897
Unemployment4.9%
Life expectancy75 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Highlands County has 105,702 residents and ranks #36 by population among Florida county equivalents. Median household income is $54,897. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.9%. Its clearest relative strength is median home value. Its county population is below the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Florida
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Highlands County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Highlands County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median home value.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $187,900 median home value and $1,035/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $54,897, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Highlands County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median home value, median gross rent, and primary care access. College attainment is 20.5% and life expectancy is 75 years.
Potential advantages
- Median home value: $187,900, rank #18 of 67 available Florida counties.
- Median gross rent: $1,035/mo, rank #24 of 67 available Florida counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,722 residents, rank #25 of 65 available Florida counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Unemployment rate: 4.9%, rank #63 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Uninsured: 19.1%, rank #63 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median household income: $54,897, rank #56 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Florida
Rank and range use only counties in Florida with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$54,897
$54,897; below the state county median of $67,500.
State rank #56 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$187,900
$187,900; below the state county median of $276,000.
State rank #18 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,035/mo
$1,035/mo; below the state county median of $1,302/mo.
State rank #24 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.9%
4.9%; above the state county median of 3.7%.
State rank #63 of 67 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
20.5%
20.5%; below the state county median of 27%.
State rank #43 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
75 years
75 years; below the state county median of 75.3 years.
State rank #37 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
21%
21%; above the state county median of 19%.
State rank #45 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
19.1%
19.1%; above the state county median of 14%.
State rank #63 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,722 residents
1 per 1,722 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,955 residents.
State rank #25 of 65 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 1,109 residents
1 per 1,109 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 766 residents.
State rank #48 of 67 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Highlands County FAQ
Is Highlands County a good place to live?
Highlands County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median home value, median gross rent, and primary care access. College attainment is 20.5% and life expectancy is 75 years.
What should I know before moving to Highlands County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $187,900 median home value and $1,035/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $54,897, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Highlands County?
Highlands County has 105,702 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Highlands County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 12055; the parent state FIPS is 12.
What is the median household income in Highlands County?
The ACS median household income is $54,897.
How much does housing cost in Highlands County?
Housing benchmarks are $187,900 median home value and $1,035/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $54,897, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Highlands County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.9%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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