Best counties to live in Florida
Written by:
February 18, 2021
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Best counties to live in Florida
What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Florida using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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#25. Polk County
- Population: 686,218
- Median home value: $150,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $978 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $50,584
- Median home value: $150,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $978 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $50,584
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Excel23 // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Clay County
- Population: 211,405
- Median home value: $185,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,148 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $65,740
- Median home value: $185,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,148 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $65,740
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Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Walton County
- Population: 68,262
- Median home value: $229,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $979 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $58,093
- Median home value: $229,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $979 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $58,093
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#22. Monroe County
- Population: 75,798
- Median home value: $494,100 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,627 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $70,033
- Median home value: $494,100 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,627 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $70,033
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#21. Nassau County
- Population: 83,098
- Median home value: $230,900 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,046 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $69,943
- Median home value: $230,900 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,046 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $69,943
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#20. Santa Rosa County
- Population: 174,755
- Median home value: $199,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,129 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $67,949
- Median home value: $199,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,129 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $67,949
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#19. Escambia County
- Population: 313,491
- Median home value: $146,200 (62% own)
- Median rent: $983 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $50,915
- Median home value: $146,200 (62% own)
- Median rent: $983 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $50,915
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Roman Eugeniusz // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Manatee County
- Population: 384,213
- Median home value: $238,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,144 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $59,009
- Median home value: $238,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,144 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $59,009
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Nadezda Murmakova // Shutterstock
#17. Lee County
- Population: 737,468
- Median home value: $224,800 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,154 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $57,832
- Median home value: $224,800 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,154 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $57,832
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#16. Broward County
- Population: 1,926,205
- Median home value: $265,000 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,392 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $59,547
- Median home value: $265,000 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,392 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $59,547
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#15. Duval County
- Population: 936,186
- Median home value: $180,700 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,074 (43% rent)
- Median household income: $55,807
- Median home value: $180,700 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,074 (43% rent)
- Median household income: $55,807
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Swarm // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Collier County
- Population: 371,453
- Median home value: $360,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,317 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $69,653
- Median home value: $360,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,317 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $69,653
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Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Okaloosa County
- Population: 203,794
- Median home value: $219,100 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,127 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $63,412
- Median home value: $219,100 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,127 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $63,412
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#12. Indian River County
- Population: 153,989
- Median home value: $202,300 (79% own)
- Median rent: $959 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $54,740
- Median home value: $202,300 (79% own)
- Median rent: $959 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $54,740
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#11. Pinellas County
- Population: 964,666
- Median home value: $201,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,112 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $54,090
- Median home value: $201,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,112 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $54,090
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#10. Martin County
- Population: 159,065
- Median home value: $273,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,111 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $61,133
- Median home value: $273,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,111 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $61,133
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Michael Kagdis // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Palm Beach County
- Population: 1,465,027
- Median home value: $283,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,398 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $63,299
- Median home value: $283,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,398 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $63,299
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Songquan Deng // Shutterstock
#8. Orange County
- Population: 1,349,746
- Median home value: $235,800 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,215 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $58,254
- Median home value: $235,800 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,215 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $58,254
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Zhukova Valentyna // Shutterstock
#7. Brevard County
- Population: 585,507
- Median home value: $196,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,068 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $56,775
- Median home value: $196,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,068 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $56,775
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Clément Bardot // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Hillsborough County
- Population: 1,422,278
- Median home value: $216,300 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,142 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $58,884
- Median home value: $216,300 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,142 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $58,884
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DouglasGreen // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Alachua County
- Population: 265,443
- Median home value: $186,700 (55% own)
- Median rent: $983 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $49,689
- Median home value: $186,700 (55% own)
- Median rent: $983 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $49,689
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Creative Couple Media // Shutterstock
#4. Sarasota County
- Population: 419,496
- Median home value: $251,600 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,277 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $62,236
- Median home value: $251,600 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,277 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $62,236
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#3. Leon County
- Population: 289,770
- Median home value: $203,100 (53% own)
- Median rent: $1,024 (47% rent)
- Median household income: $53,106
- Median home value: $203,100 (53% own)
- Median rent: $1,024 (47% rent)
- Median household income: $53,106
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#2. St. Johns County
- Population: 244,674
- Median home value: $304,700 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,312 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $82,252
- Median home value: $304,700 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,312 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $82,252
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Xavier6984 // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Seminole County
- Population: 461,402
- Median home value: $242,600 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,242 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $66,768
- Median home value: $242,600 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,242 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $66,768
