Fort Lauderdale city, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Fort Lauderdale city is a major urban center located in Florida. The total population is 183,032. It ranks as the 10th most populous out of 953 cities and towns in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fort Lauderdale city is 42.9 years. This is about average than the state median of 42.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fort Lauderdale city is $79,935. This is 11% higher than the state median of $71,711. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 2% higher. The poverty rate stands at 15.2%. This is 21% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $455,600. Housing costs are 40% higher than the state median of $325,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.7x. 53.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Fort Lauderdale city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 45.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 28.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (28.5% vs 14.8%).

Education

39.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 33.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%. Notably, 16.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fort Lauderdale city, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 953 Census-designated places in Florida. For official data, visit data.census.gov.