DeSoto County, Florida Demographics 2026

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.