Gardner, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 381, Gardner's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Gardner is a small community located in Florida, within Hardee County. The total population is 381. It ranks as the 874th most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gardner is 64.6 years. This is 52% higher than the state median of 42.6 years. Only 15.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 31.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 42.5%. This is 238% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Gardner, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $86,400. Housing costs are 76% lower than the state median of $359,000. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 48% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gardner is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 39.6%.

Education

15.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% 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 66.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gardner, 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.