DeSoto County, FL Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | DeSoto County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,912 | 22,318,419 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 59.4 | 312.4 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.10% | 1.35% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.8 | 40.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 12,656 | 8,536,315 | 128,459,983 |
Population in DeSoto County declined by 0.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 34,713 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
DeSoto County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | DeSoto County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,888 | $71,865 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.42% | 5.65% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 8.6% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in DeSoto County is about 29% lower than in Florida.
Housing
| Metric | DeSoto County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $56,498 | $293,727 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $910 | $1,564 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.3% | 67.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in DeSoto County is about 5.2 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $910 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in DeSoto County spend about 46 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 190 hours, about 7.9 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | DeSoto County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 22.9 | 23.9 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 45.7 | 47.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 190 | 200 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,905 | $6,185 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 13.9% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 11,137 | 14,318 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,452 | 3,068 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Florida:
Taylor County (13.8 min), Monroe County (16.1 min), Franklin County (17.1 min).
Slowest:
Osceola County (32.4 min), Union County (32.1 min), Washington County (32.1 min).
The average commute time in DeSoto County is 23 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in Florida.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
DeSoto County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | DeSoto County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.0% | 30.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.49 | 2.51 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Florida:
St. Johns County (0.4), Leon County (0.4), Alachua County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hamilton County (0.1), Hendry County (0.1), Hardee County (0.1).
Health
DeSoto County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | DeSoto County | Florida Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 77.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 25.4% | 19.5% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 24.1% | 21.3% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Florida:
St. Johns County (0.8), Seminole County (0.8), Alachua County (0.8).
Lowest:
Glades County (0.8), Putnam County (0.8), Hendry County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about DeSoto County, Florida.
What is the population of DeSoto County, Florida?
The population of DeSoto County, Florida is 37,912, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of DeSoto County, Florida?
The population density of DeSoto County, Florida is 59.4 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in DeSoto County, Florida?
The median household income in DeSoto County, Florida is $50,888, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in DeSoto County, Florida?
The median home price in DeSoto County, Florida is $56,498, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in DeSoto County, Florida?
The unemployment rate in DeSoto County, Florida is 8.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.