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Buying a home in Hernando County, Florida

The typical owner-occupied home in Hernando County is worth about $276,000, 23% below the Florida median of $359,000 and 17% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,858 a year in property taxes, about 0.67% of their home's value, lower than the Florida rate of 0.76%. The median household earns $66,058 a year, so the median home costs 4.2 times the median income (4.8 times for Florida). 83% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Hernando County at a glance

Hernando County Florida U.S.
Median home value $276,000 $359,000 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,858 $2,730 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.67% 0.76% 0.94%
Median household income $66,058 $74,568 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 83% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 55% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,513 $1,959 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 22.8% 23.6% 21.0%
Median rent $1,298 $1,669 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.3% 35.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1991 1988 1980
Vacant homes 10.9% 14.7% 10.1%
Population 207,018 22,416,077 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Hernando County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Hernando County home of $276,000 with 20% down costs about $1,754 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,214, 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 $75,190 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 32% of the median Hernando County household income of $66,058; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $242,000.

The median rent here is $1,298 a month, so owning the median home costs about $456 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$55,200
Loan amount$220,800
Principal and interest$1,485
Property taxes (0.67% a year)$154
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$115
PMI$0
Total per month$1,754

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$9,660
Loan amount$271,001
Principal and interest$1,823
Property taxes (0.67% a year)$154
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$115
FHA mortgage insurance$122
Total per month$2,214

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Questions about home buying in Hernando County

What is the median home value in Hernando County?

About $276,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Hernando County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,858 a year, which is about 0.67% 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 Hernando County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,754 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $75,190 a year.

More about Hernando 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