City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Fort Meade, FL

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

5,172
Residents
$35,131
Median income
$141,500
Median home
$1,497
Median rent (state)

Fort Meade - the verdict

Fort Meade ranks in the 5th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

5th
percentile, household income
24th
percentile, home value
60th
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 Meade, FL

Florida's Fort Meade is a small town, with 5,172 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Fort Meade households earn a median of $35,131 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 21.1%. Home values in Fort Meade run a median of $141,500, and the median resident age is 43.8 years. 10.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 43.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 33 residential building permits were authorized in Fort Meade (Building Boom), up 725% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Florida scores 103.4 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,497 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Florida run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 96.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

5,172 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$35,131 /yr

Poverty 21.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Fort Meade compare to other US cities?

Where Fort Meade sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 24% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% 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

Each percentile compares Fort Meade against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Florida only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Florida-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Fort Meade's strongest outlier among Florida cities

Among the 930 Florida cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Fort Meade ranks #97 - the 90th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fort Meade only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#877 of 903
3rd percentile in Florida
Median Gross Rent
#648 of 930
26th percentile in Florida
Median Home Value
#788 of 894
12th percentile in Florida
Poverty Rate
#97 of 930
90th percentile in Florida
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#821 of 930
12th percentile in Florida

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Florida only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

5thIncome percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fort Meade's home value compares nationally

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

$141,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 76% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $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 Meade $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 Meade, FL Fort Meade, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fort Meade, 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 Meade, FL median $35,131/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 Meade, 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 Meade, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 10.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 21.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 43.3%

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

Population
5,172
Median Income
$35,131
Median Home Value
$141,500
Median Age
43.8
Poverty Rate
21.1%
Labor force participation
43.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
10.2%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,000 residents5,100 residents5,200 residents5,300 residents5,400 residents5,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,083 residents 5,379 residents ▲ +5.8%
Fort Meade's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
33
housing units authorized
Single-Family
23
detached homes
Multifamily
10
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 8
2021 20
2022 28
2023 15
2024 33

Permit volume increased 725% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.8%
Carpool
9.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
8.2%

Based on 1,766 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 Meade sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,497/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Samsula-Spruce Creek
5,174 people
River Ridge
5,191 people
Crystal Lake
5,203 people
Daytona Beach Shores
5,139 people
Rainbow Springs
5,226 people
Fussels Corner
5,113 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Meade's 5,172 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mayfair, CA
5,173 people
Windsor Heights, IA
5,171 people
Bolivar, TN
5,171 people
Tichigan, WI
5,173 people
North Oaks, MN
5,175 people
New Martinsville, WV
5,175 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Meade's $35,131 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Newcomerstown, OH
$35,125 median income
Charleston, MO
$35,139 median income
Ripley, WV
$35,120 median income
Alford, IN
$35,147 median income
Keswick, CA
$35,114 median income
Standish, MI
$35,114 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fort Meade, 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 Meade, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 59.2% 13.6% 12.0% 14.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 32.0% White 59.2% Black or African American 13.6% Asian 0.1% American Indian 1.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 12.0% Two or more races 14.0% 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 Meade 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 Meade (this city) 5,172 $35,131
Samsula-Spruce Creek 5,174 $90,575
River Ridge 5,191 $86,786
Crystal Lake 5,203 $47,679
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fort Meade, FL?

What is the population of Fort Meade, FL? +

Fort Meade, FL counts 5,172 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Fort Meade is $35,131 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fort Meade? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fort Meade; 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 Meade, FL? +

Homes in Fort Meade carry a median value of $141,500, 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

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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.