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Buying a home in DeSoto County, Florida

The typical owner-occupied home in DeSoto County is worth about $174,100, 52% below the Florida median of $359,000 and 48% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,447 a year in property taxes, about 0.83% of their home's value, higher than the Florida rate of 0.76%. The median household earns $54,417 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (4.8 times for Florida). 73% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 39% of those owners still have a mortgage.

DeSoto County at a glance

DeSoto County Florida U.S.
Median home value $174,100 $359,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,447 $2,730 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.83% 0.76% 0.94%
Median household income $54,417 $74,568 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 73% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 39% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,409 $1,959 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 22.5% 23.6% 21.0%
Median rent $932 $1,669 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.6% 35.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1990 1988 1980
Vacant homes 19.2% 14.7% 10.1%
Population 35,386 22,416,077 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in DeSoto County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median DeSoto County home of $174,100 with 20% down costs about $1,130 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,420, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $48,425 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 25% of the median DeSoto County household income of $54,417; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $196,000.

The median rent here is $932 a month, so owning the median home costs about $198 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$34,820
Loan amount$139,280
Principal and interest$937
Property taxes (0.83% a year)$120
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$73
PMI$0
Total per month$1,130

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,094
Loan amount$170,947
Principal and interest$1,150
Property taxes (0.83% a year)$120
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$73
FHA mortgage insurance$77
Total per month$1,420

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Questions about home buying in DeSoto County

What is the median home value in DeSoto County?

About $174,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in DeSoto County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,447 a year, which is about 0.83% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in DeSoto County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,130 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $48,425 a year.

More about DeSoto County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data