County · Florida
Highlands County, Florida
Highlands County, Florida. Highlands County had 111,122 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 9.8% since 2020, faster than Florida (+8.9%). It holds 3 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs) and 35 census tracts. GEOID 12055.
Highlands County is the county of the Sebring, FL metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
111,122
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 101,235 · ACS 2020-2024: 105,702
Median household income
$54,897
±$2,416 (90% margin)
Florida: $74,568
Median home value
$187,900
±$8,429 (90% margin)
Florida: $359,000
Median gross rent
$1,035
±$52 (90% margin)
Florida: $1,669
How many people live in Highlands County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 101,235 residents in Highlands County. The Census Bureau estimates 111,122 for July 1, 2025, up 9.8% since 2020, faster than Florida (+8.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 105,702 over 1,018 square miles of land.
| Measure | Highlands County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 105,702 | 22,416,077 | +2,265 |
| Households | 46,879±755 | 8,752,810 | +5,139 |
| Average household size | 2.22±0.04 | 2.51 | −0.21 |
| Housing units | 58,635±48 | 10,256,470 | +2,844 |
Highlands County's population since 2000
From 87,366 in 2000 to 111,122 in 2025: up 27.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Highlands County?
Highlands County holds 3 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Sebring with 12,059 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Sebring | 10,729 | $44,184 |
|---|---|---|
| Avon Park | 9,658 | $36,485 |
| Lake Placid | 2,360 | $47,018 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Highlands County?
The median resident of Highlands County is 54.4 years old; 16.7% are under 18 and 36.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 22.2%. 10.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Highlands County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.4±0.2 | 42.6 | +0.9 |
| Under 18 years | 16.7%±0.1 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 36.0%±0.1 pts | 21.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 22.2% | 27.4% | +2.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.1%±0.6 pts | 50.4% | −4.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 9.3%±0.4 pts | 14.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.5%±0.1 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1%±0.6 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.8%±0.9 pts | 21.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.2%±0.7 pts | 30.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.1%±0.7 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 22.9%±1.2 pts | 13.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 13.8%±1.1 pts | 11.5% | +2.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.6%±1.2 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.5%±1.5 pts | 34.1% | +3.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.5%±0.9 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.5%±0.4 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Highlands County earn?
Half of Highlands County's 46,879 households earn less than $54,897 a year (±$2,416), against $74,568 in Florida. In 2015-2019 the median was $50,387 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $4,510 after inflation. 15.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Highlands County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,897±$2,416 | $74,568 | +$4,510 |
| Mean household income | $71,955±$2,558 | $105,967 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,993±$1,098 | $42,609 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.3%±1.4 pts | 12.6% | −3.3 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 17.1%±3.2 pts | 16.5% | −16.3 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.7%±1.3 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.7%±1.7 pts | 91.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Highlands County?
Owners occupy 78.6% of Highlands County's occupied homes and renters 21.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $187,900 by its owner (±$8,429). The median renter pays $1,035 a month including utilities, and 42.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Highlands County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $187,900±$8,429 | $359,000 | +$54,862 |
| Median gross rent | $1,035±$52 | $1,669 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.4%±4.4 pts | 50.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,381±$34 | $1,959 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.6%±1.5 pts | 67.6% | +3.3 pts |
| Housing units | 58,635±48 | 10,256,470 | +2,844 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.5%±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.8%±1.6 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 59.8%±1.4 pts | 54.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 24.2%±1.2 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2%±0.4 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.6%±0.4 pts | 1.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Highlands County building?
Builders took permits for 768 new housing units across Highlands County in 2025 (706 single-family), 6.9 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Highlands County get to work?
75.2% of Highlands County's workers drive alone and 8.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.4%.
| Measure | Highlands County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 43.6%±1.1 pts | 59.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.4%±1.0 pts | 4.8% | −3.1 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 75.2%±2.4 pts | 70.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.2%±1.8 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.9%±0.7 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.6%±1.3 pts | 15.7% | +3.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.8 min±1.2 | 28.0 min | +3.2 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Highlands County's census tracts?
Highlands County is divided into 35 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $30,393 (Tract 9603) to $86,087 (Tract 9616.02).
All 35 census tracts of Highlands County, with their figures
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Highlands County compare with Florida's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 36th of 67 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 29th of 67 |
| Residents per square mile | 38th of 67 |
| Median household income | 56th of 67 |
| Median home value | 50th of 67 |
| Median gross rent | 44th of 67 |
| Poverty rate | 26th of 67 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43rd of 67 |
| Median age | 6th of 67 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Highlands County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.