Population 35,386 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in DeSoto County
Household size in DeSoto County
| Period | DeSoto County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.03 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.82 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.84 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.39 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, DeSoto County sits close to the national average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.03, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in DeSoto County
| Period | DeSoto County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.3 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.7 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.1 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.3 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.9 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
DeSoto County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.3, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 40.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in DeSoto County
| Period | DeSoto County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.6% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in DeSoto County than nationally: 13.3%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 4.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. DeSoto County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Florida counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in DeSoto County
Renters in DeSoto County
| Period | DeSoto County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.5% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.8% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.3% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.5% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in DeSoto County own their homes; 27.5% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 61.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 6.0 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in DeSoto County
| Period | DeSoto County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.6% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.6% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.5% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.4 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 18.2% of the housing in DeSoto County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 7.4 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in DeSoto County
| Period | DeSoto County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in DeSoto County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in DeSoto County
| Period | DeSoto County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $686 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $695 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $746 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $918 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$233 | +$724 | +$606 |
A typical rental in DeSoto County costs $918 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $233 a month from 2006–10, a 34% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.9% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in DeSoto County
Bachelor's degrees in DeSoto County
| Period | DeSoto County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in DeSoto County: 11.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only three of Florida's 67 counties have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in DeSoto County
| Period | DeSoto County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.6% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 70.8% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 73.9% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 73.9% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults in DeSoto County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 73.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 6.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Florida county has a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in DeSoto County
| Period | DeSoto County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in DeSoto County runs well above the national rate: 9.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Of Florida's 67 counties, only two have higher unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
DeSoto County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto County | 2.64 | 45.3 | 13.3% | 27.5% | 18.2% | 1988 | $918 | 11.7% | 73.9% | 9.7% |
| Charlotte County | 2.22 | 58.3 | 6.0% | 16.2% | 20.0% | 1992 | $1,573 | 26.9% | 92.7% | 4.9% |
| Hardee County | 3.12 | 36.6 | 17.4% | 28.6% | 16.0% | 1988 | $985 | 12.1% | 75.6% | 4.8% |
| Highlands County | 2.28 | 52.1 | 9.0% | 21.4% | 18.3% | 1986 | $1,160 | 20.7% | 86.3% | 6.8% |
| Sarasota County | 2.20 | 55.0 | 6.7% | 23.3% | 16.3% | 1990 | $1,986 | 40.3% | 94.6% | 3.8% |
| Lee County | 2.59 | 48.5 | 9.5% | 25.7% | 19.9% | 1997 | $1,840 | 31.3% | 90.2% | 4.1% |
| Manatee County | 2.50 | 49.3 | 7.7% | 25.7% | 17.3% | 1996 | $1,998 | 39.2% | 91.7% | 4.4% |
| Glades County | 2.52 | 48.6 | 11.9% | 14.9% | 25.0% | 1993 | $892 | 14.0% | 76.6% | 5.6% |
| Hendry County | 2.92 | 36.8 | 19.8% | 26.4% | 11.7% | 1993 | $1,172 | 13.7% | 68.0% | 4.1% |
| Polk County | 2.80 | 40.5 | 13.1% | 29.5% | 14.4% | 1992 | $1,499 | 23.4% | 87.7% | 4.9% |
| Hillsborough County | 2.66 | 38.8 | 12.1% | 38.5% | 8.0% | 1991 | $1,830 | 37.9% | 89.4% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Hickman County, TN · Huntington County, IN · Howell County, MO · Howard County, TX · Houghton County, MI · Hot Spring County, AR · Hopkins County, TX · Union County, SC · Hocking County, OH · Hill County, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up DeSoto County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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