How many renters live in Highlands County, Florida?
The County of Highlands County has people living in households.
There are renters living in renter households in this County. Renters make up 21.35 percent of the population living in Highlands County.
What is the rental market like in Highlands County, Florida?
There are an estimated housing units in the Highlands County area. Of these, units are rental homes, making up percent of the housing market. For every renter household in Highlands County, Florida, there are 1.07 rental units.
What is the vacancy rate for rentals in Highlands County?
The rental vacancy rate in Highlands County is 4 percent. This is a lower than average vacancy rate. When rental vacancy rates are low there are fewer available units. Rents tend to be higher as more people compete for scarce housing.
How many rental units are in Highlands County for each bedroom size?
Occupied Rental Units by Size in Highlands County
| Studio | One-Bedroom | Two-Bedroom | Three-Bedroom | Four+ Bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 562 | 1,427 | 4,105 | 2,782 | 710 |
Occupied Rental Units by Size in Highlands County
A large number of apartments in Highlands County have two or fewer bedrooms. Seniors and young professionals especially may have more success finding an apartment that meets their needs.
How Much Is Rent in Highlands County
Depending on size, the Fair Market Rent - HUDs measurement of the cost of an average housing unit - ranges from $757 to $1,831. FMRs are updated annually by HUD for every city and county nationwide.
| Bed Size | 2024 Fair Market Rents |
| Studio | $757 |
| One BR | $850 |
| Two BR | $1,117 |
| Three BR | $1,391 |
| Four BR | $1,831 |
2024 Fair Market Rents in Highlands County, Florida
How many units are rented at Fair Market Rent (FMR) in Highlands County?
Renters with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher must select a home that is at or below the area’s Fair Market Rent. Markets with a large share of units above FMR tend to have longer search times to find a qualified unit, while those with a large share of units below FMR tend to have more choices and shorter search times. The share below FMR can vary by size of unit, as shown in the table below.
These are the approximate number of units renting below the FMR in this market:
| Unit Size | Count of Units Below FMR | Percentage of Total Units Below FMR |
| Studio | 341 | 61 percent |
| One BR | 1,020 | 71 percent |
| Two BR | 2,650 | 65 percent |
Rental Units Below FMR in Highlands County, Florida
How many affordable rental units are in Highlands County?
There are a variety of federal affordable housing programs serving households in Highlands County, Florida including the following:
| Federal Program | Unit Count |
| Low Income Housing Tax Credit | |
| Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance | |
| Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities | |
| USDA Section 515 Rural Rental Housing | |
| USDA Section 514 Farm Labor Housing |
Tracked Units by Federal Program in Highlands County, Florida
Rental units may be funded in part by multiple federal programs.
Income Based Apartments in Highlands County, Florida
Highlands County features 858 income based apartments. Tenants of income based apartments typically pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent and utilities.
Low Rent Apartments in Highlands County, Florida
There are 458 rent subsidized apartments that do not provide direct rental assistance but remain affordable to low income households in Highlands County.
Housing Choice Vouchers in Highlands County, Florida
On average, Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers pay Highlands County landlords $700 per month towards rent. The average voucher holder contributes $300 towards rent in Highlands County.
The maximum amount a voucher would pay on behalf of a low-income tenant in Highlands County, Florida for a two-bedroom apartment is between $1,005 and $1,229.
Sourced from federal housing data and AffordableHousingOnline.com research.