Highlands County, Florida

Highlands County

Highlands County is located in the south central Florida region, along with Desoto, Hendry, Glades, Okeechobee, and Hardee counties. The largest industries providing employment are education & health services, natural resources & mining, trade & transportation, and government. Major private sector employers for Highlands County are Florida Hospital Heartland Division, Highlands Regional Medical Center, Cross Country Automotive Services, Wal-Mart Sebring, and Medical Data Systems. Top public sector employers are Highlands County School Board and Highlands County Board of Commissioners. Incorporated cities and towns include Avon Park, Lake Placid, and Sebring (county seat)

Sue Goldthorp

I'm here to help

My name is Sue Goldthorp. I am a real estate broker and co-founder of Visulate. Drop me a line if you would like me to help you buy or sell a property in Highlands County Florida.

Highlands County Florida Cities

There are 5 cities in Highlands County Florida. These are listed below. Click on a link for details.

Avon Park, Lake Placid, Lorida, Sebring, Venus,

Highlands County has a population of approximately 98,128 people. The population increased -0.7% from 2010 to 2012. This compared to a 2.7% increase for the State of Florida and a 1.7% increase for the country as a whole. Highlands County is 1016.62 square miles and had a population density of 97.2 Persons per square mile in 2010. This compared to 350.6 for Florida and 87.4 for the country.

There are 55,276 housing units in Highlands County (a housing unit is defined by the US Census Bureau as a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room that is occupied as separate living quarters.) Highlands County has a 79.4% homeownership rate compared to Florida's rate of 69.0%. Highlands County's medium household income in 2011 was $34,913, which is lower than the medium income for Florida as a whole: $47,827.

Regional Economic Indicators
RegionPopulation
2012
Economic Activity
2007 (Millions)
Population Growth
2010 to 2012
Median Household
Income 2011
Housing
Units
Median Price
2007 to 2011
United States 313,914,040 $14,025,202 1.7% $52,762 132,312,404 $186,200
Florida 19,317,568 $630,738 2.7% $47,827 9,026,965 $188,600
Highlands County 98,128 $1,496 -0.7% $34,913 55,276 $115,600

18.3% of the population in Highlands County lives below the poverty line, compared to 14.7% in Florida and 14.3% nationwide. Additional Information:

Highlands County Economic Activity

The U.S. Bureau of the Census, Economic , 2007 calculated the total value manufacturing, merchant wholesaler, retail sales and food service sales in Highlands County. The Census measured activity of large and medium-sized firms during calendar year 2007. It does not include every aspect of the economy but can be used as a measure of economic activity.

At $1,496 million, Highlands County's economic activity represents 0.24% of the Florida economy.

Economic Activity
ActivityValue (Millions)Percentage
Manufacturers shipments $306 20.5%
Merchant wholesaler sales $0 0.0%
Retail sales $1,090 72.8%
Accommodation and food services sales $101 6.7%
Total $1,496100%

Highlands County Regional Comparisons

Highlands County is located in South Central Florida. This region is responsible for 0.5% of Florida's economic activity. Highlands County represents 44.1% of the region's economy.

Regional Economic Indicators
RegionPopulation
2012
Economic Activity
2007 (Millions)
Population Growth
2010 to 2012
Median Household
Income 2011
Housing
Units
Median Price
2007 to 2011
Hardee County 27,514 $418 -0.8% $38,046 9,599 $104,100
Highlands County 98,128 $1,496 -0.7% $34,913 55,276 $115,600
Okeechobee County 39,467 $563 -1.3% $36,929 18,656 $124,300
DeSoto County 34,712 $305 -0.4% $36,407 14,617 $114,900
Glades County 13,107 $18 1.7% $39,611 7,082 $95,200
Hendry County 37,447 $595 -4.3% $37,989 14,687 $103,400
Total 250,375 $3,395 -1.0% $37,316 119,917 $109,583

Highlands Real Estate

There are 53,723 properties in Highlands County. The following table shows a summary of them based on 2013 sales data.

Highlands County Real Estate Sales Summary
Usage TypeProperty Count%Sales CountMedian PriceMedian Price/FtSales FromTo
Commercial Property 0 0.00 50 $282,500 $74January 1st, 2013August 1st, 2013
Government Property 4,181 7.78 4 $28,500 $68February 1st, 2013July 1st, 2013
Miscellaneous Property 162 0.30 2 $941,550 $2,409March 1st, 2013June 1st, 2013
Residential Property 0 0.00 1,819 $65,000 $41January 1st, 2013September 1st, 2013

Commercial Real Estate in Highlands County, Florida

0( .00%) of the properties in Highlands County are classified as Commercial. 50 of them sold between January 1st, 2013 and August 1st, 2013. The total value of these sales was $71,635,800. The median sales price was $282,500. In 2013 the median sales price for A Class Commercial Property in Highlands County was $391 per sq ft, B Class properties sold for $74/ft and C Class $24/ft.

Government Real Estate in Highlands County, Florida

4,181( 7.78%) of the properties in Highlands County are classified as Government. 4 of them sold between February 1st, 2013 and July 1st, 2013. The total value of these sales was $308,600. The median sales price was $28,500. In 2013 the median sales price for Government Property in Highlands County was $68 per sq ft.

Miscellaneous Real Estate in Highlands County, Florida

162( .30%) of the properties in Highlands County are classified as Miscellaneous. 2 of them sold between March 1st, 2013 and June 1st, 2013. The total value of these sales was $1,883,100. The median sales price was $941,550. In 2013 the median sales price for Miscellaneous Property in Highlands County was $2,409 per sq ft.

Residential Real Estate in Highlands County, Florida

0( .00%) of the properties in Highlands County are classified as Residential. 1,819 of them sold between January 1st, 2013 and September 1st, 2013. The total value of these sales was $168,111,599. The median sales price was $65,000. In 2013 the median sales price for A Class Residential Property in Highlands County was $71 per sq ft, B Class properties sold for $41/ft and C Class $19/ft.

Additional Details:

Highlands Market Data

Highlands Real Estate
Property UsageProperty CountTotal Sq Ft
Agricultural 4,642 5,509,553
Government Property 5,600 3,766,712
Health Care 7 475,049
Hotel & Motel 1,535 896,617
Industrial 437 3,750,553
Land 56,811 478,345
Miscellaneous Property 166 1,827,119
Mobile/Manufactured 5,132 5,046,188
Multifamily 812 3,285,589
Office 357 1,676,088
Residential 34,567 64,128,241
Retail 842 6,943,684
Senior Housing 286 1,084,922
Special Purpose 601 3,932,599
Sports & Entertaining 75 321,237