Crystal River, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Crystal River is a small community located in Florida, within Citrus County. The total population is 3,638. It ranks as the 557th most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Crystal River is 62.0 years. This is 46% higher than the state median of 42.6 years. Only 11.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 26.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Crystal River is $54,405. This is 27% lower than the state median of $74,568. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.7%. This is 41% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 6.8%. This is 41% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $332,100. Housing costs are 7% lower than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 60.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Crystal River is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (83.7% vs 50.4%). The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.8%) is well below the state average of 27.4%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

30.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Crystal River, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 955 Census-designated places in Florida. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.