Fort Lauderdale, Florida Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Fort Lauderdale, Florida had a total population of 185,604, the 10th largest city in Florida, with a median household income of $83,130, which is 11% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.0%.
Fort Lauderdale Quick Facts
How Fort Lauderdale 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 | 180,124 | 185,604 | +3.0% |
| Median household income | $73,166 | $83,130 | +13.6% |
| Median home value¹ | $411,056 | $486,700 | +18.4% |
| Median gross rent | $1,591 | $1,854 | +16.5% |
How Fort Lauderdale Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 44.4%
- Black: 28.7%
- Hispanic: 20.3%
- Asian: 1.4%
- Other: 0.5%
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 10.3%
- HS Diploma: 24.0%
- Some College: 16.6%
- Associate's: 8.3%
- Bachelor's: 24.6%
- Graduate+: 16.2%
Fort Lauderdale Rankings in Florida
Explore Florida Rankings
Other Cities in Broward County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke Pines | 173,194 | $85,104 | 10.0% | $439,500 |
| Hollywood | 155,082 | $67,203 | 14.7% | $410,600 |
| Miramar | 138,600 | $89,125 | 8.5% | $462,700 |
| Coral Springs | 136,103 | $93,602 | 7.6% | $545,400 |
| Pompano Beach | 114,147 | $67,195 | 15.2% | $349,300 |
| Davie | 108,346 | $87,250 | 11.2% | $462,900 |
| Sunrise | 97,918 | $77,652 | 10.7% | $354,500 |
| Plantation (Broward County) | 96,293 | $92,541 | 10.0% | $483,500 |
| Deerfield Beach | 88,093 | $59,730 | 15.1% | $309,600 |
| Lauderhill | 74,896 | $51,165 | 19.4% | $272,900 |
Cities Similar to Fort Lauderdale
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke Pines | 173,194 | $85,104 | $439,500 | 39.8% | 10.0% |
| Cape Coral | 215,536 | $78,104 | $373,500 | 26.9% | 10.8% |
| Port St. Lucie | 232,491 | $80,648 | $369,200 | 28.1% | 9.5% |
| Tallahassee | 201,875 | $57,409 | $294,400 | 51.3% | 23.6% |
| Hollywood | 155,082 | $67,203 | $410,600 | 33.8% | 14.7% |
Population Overview
Fort Lauderdale is a major urban center located in Florida, within Broward County. The total population is 185,604. It ranks as the 10th most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.
Age Demographics
The median age in Fort Lauderdale is 42.8 years. This is about the same as the state median of 42.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Fort Lauderdale is $83,130. This is 11% higher than the state median of $74,568. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.0%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $486,700. Housing costs are 36% higher than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x. 54.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 67.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Fort Lauderdale is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 28.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (28.7% vs 14.6%). The Asian population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.
Education
40.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% higher 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 89.7%. Notably, 16.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Fort Lauderdale, 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.
Free data download: Get all Florida city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
Fort Lauderdale, Florida has a population of 185,604 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
The median household income in Fort Lauderdale is $83,130, which is 3% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
The poverty rate in Fort Lauderdale is 15.0%. This means approximately 27,542 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
Fort Lauderdale's population is 44.4% White, 28.7% Black, 20.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
The median home value in Fort Lauderdale is $486,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x.
How educated is Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
40.8% of adults (25+) in Fort Lauderdale hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 16.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.