DeSoto County, Florida Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

DeSoto County, Florida has a population of 35,386, the 49th most populous county in Florida. The median household income is $54,417 and the median home value is $174,100. The poverty rate is 24.1%.

DeSoto County Quick Facts

Population 35,386

Median Household Income $54,41790% MOE ±$3,888

Median Home Value $174,10090% MOE ±$12,130

Poverty Rate 24.1%90% MOE ±3.3 pts

Unemployment Rate 9.5%90% MOE ±3.5 pts

Median Age 43.5 years90% MOE ±0.9 years

Homeownership Rate 72.5%90% MOE ±3.3 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 10.8%90% MOE ±1.7 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 73.5%

Cities/Places 2

Population 35,386 49th of 67

Median Income $54,417 27% lower than state

Poverty Rate 24.1%

Unemployment 9.5%

How DeSoto County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	36,903	35,386	-4.1%
Median household income	$43,614	$54,417	+24.8%
Median home value¹	$107,933	$174,100	+61.3%
Median gross rent	$845	$932	+10.2%

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

DeSoto

$54,417

$74,568

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

DeSoto

$174,100

$359,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.6%

$25K-$50K 23.4%

$50K-$100K 34.9%

$100K+ 18.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

8.7%

$10K-$15K

3.9%

$15K-$20K

6.7%

$20K-$25K

4.4%

$25K-$30K

7.3%

$30K-$35K

4.0%

$35K-$40K

3.5%

$40K-$45K

3.1%

$45K-$50K

5.4%

$50K-$60K

8.0%

$60K-$75K

12.6%

$75K-$100K

14.3%

$100K-$125K

6.8%

$125K-$150K

3.7%

$150K-$200K

5.2%

$200K+

2.3%

Employment

9.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8%|National: 5.2%

49.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.5%

Renter 27.5%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $932/mo 20.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.9%

18-34

21.0%

35-54

25.1%

55-74

25.0%

75+

10.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 65 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in DeSoto County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Arcadia	7,707	$39,677	31.8%	$177,700
Southeast Arcadia	7,555	$60,169	26.4%	$169,200

Explore Florida Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

DeSoto County is located in Florida with a total population of 35,386. It is the 49th most populous county out of 67 in Florida. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in DeSoto County is 43.5 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 42.6 years. 10.8% 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 DeSoto County is $54,417. 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 24.1%. This is 91% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.5%. This is 97% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $174,100. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 72.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in DeSoto County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 54.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 30.0%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

10.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 68% 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 73.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for DeSoto County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Florida and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of DeSoto County, Florida?

DeSoto County has a population of 35,386, making it the 49th most populous county in Florida.

What is the median income in DeSoto County?

The median household income in DeSoto County is $54,417 with a poverty rate of 24.1%.

How many cities are in DeSoto County, Florida?

DeSoto County contains 2 Census-designated places.