Hernando, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Hernando is a small city located in Florida, within Citrus County. The total population is 9,299. It ranks as the 356th most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hernando is 59.9 years. This is 41% higher than the state median of 42.6 years. Only 14.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.1% 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 Hernando is $43,076. This is 42% lower than the state median of $74,568. It is also 47% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.1%. This is 68% 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 10.6%. This is 120% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $209,700. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.9x. 85.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hernando has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.3% vs 50.4%). The Black or African American population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 27.4%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

15.3% 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 91.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hernando, 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.