City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fort Lauderdale - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

183,032
Residents
$79,935
Median income
$455,600
Median home
$2,333
Median rent (state)

Fort Lauderdale - the verdict

Fort Lauderdale ranks in the 61st percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

61st
percentile, household income
82nd
percentile, home value
91st
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fort Lauderdale, FL

183,032 people live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Fort Lauderdale brings in $79,935 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.2%. Home values in Fort Lauderdale run a median of $455,600, and the median resident age is 42.9 years. Educational attainment runs 39.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 61.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 255 residential building permits were authorized in Fort Lauderdale (Construction Slowdown), down 80% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,333 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Florida run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 21.9 minutes, with 66.3% driving alone and 17.5% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

183,032 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$79,935 /yr

Poverty 11.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Fort Lauderdale compare to other US cities?

Here's how Fort Lauderdale stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 61% higher than other cities
Home value 82% pricier than other cities
Median rent 91% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Fort Lauderdale's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Florida, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

61stIncome percentile

61st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fort Lauderdale's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$455,600 18th percentile more affordable than 18% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fort Lauderdale $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fort Lauderdale, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fort Lauderdale, FL median $79,935/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fort Lauderdale, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fort Lauderdale, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 39.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
183,032
Median Income
$79,935
Median Home Value
$455,600
Median Age
42.9
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Labor force participation
61.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
39.8%

Schools

Total Schools
31
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
180,000 residents185,000 residents190,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 182,726 residents 188,677 residents ▲ +3.3%
Fort Lauderdale's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
255
housing units authorized
Single-Family
227
detached homes
Multifamily
28
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,247
2020 537
2021 646
2022 184
2023 213
2024 255

Permit volume decreased 80% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.9 minutes
Drive Alone
66.3%
Carpool
7.4%
Public Transit
2.6%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
17.5%
Other
3.8%

Based on 93,477 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fort Lauderdale sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,333/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Pembroke Pines
170,557 people
Tallahassee
199,696 people
Cape Coral
206,387 people
Hollywood
152,935 people
Port St. Lucie
220,453 people
Hialeah
221,901 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Lauderdale's 183,032 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Chattanooga, TN
182,832 people
Shreveport, LA
183,483 people
Newport News, VA
184,774 people
Mobile, AL
185,097 people
Paradise, NV
186,178 people
Aurora, IL
179,867 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Lauderdale's $79,935 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pen Argyl, PA
$79,948 median income
Apalachin, NY
$79,919 median income
Visalia, CA
$79,952 median income
Westwood CDP (Chester County), PA
$79,953 median income
Four Lakes, WA
$79,913 median income
Mark, IL
$79,911 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fort Lauderdale, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fort Lauderdale, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 51.3% 28.8% 14.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20.1% White 51.3% Black or African American 28.8% Asian 1.6% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.4% Two or more races 14.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fort Lauderdale compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fort Lauderdale (this city) 183,032 $79,935
Pembroke Pines 170,557 $81,675
Tallahassee 199,696 $55,931
Cape Coral 206,387 $76,062
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fort Lauderdale, FL?

What is the population of Fort Lauderdale, FL? +

Fort Lauderdale, FL has a population of 183,032 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fort Lauderdale, FL? +

In Fort Lauderdale, the typical household earns $79,935 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fort Lauderdale? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fort Lauderdale; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Fort Lauderdale, FL? +

Homes in Fort Lauderdale carry a median value of $455,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.