Manatee County, Florida Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Manatee County is located in Florida with a total population of 416,020. It is the 15th most populous county out of 67 in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Manatee County is 49.4 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 42.6 years. 13.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Manatee County is $75,792. This is 6% higher than the state median of $71,711. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 3% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.4%. This is 18% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $359,800. Housing costs are 11% higher than the state median of $325,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.7x. 74.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Manatee County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 68.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 17.8%.

Education

34.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% 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 91.0%.