The typical owner-occupied home in Highlands County is worth about $187,900, 48% below the Florida median of $359,000 and 44% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,353 a year in property taxes, about 0.72% of their home's value, lower than the Florida rate of 0.76%. The median household earns $54,897 a year, so the median home costs 3.4 times the median income (4.8 times for Florida). 79% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 38% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Highlands County at a glance
| Highlands County | Florida | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,900 | $359,000 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,353 | $2,730 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.72% | 0.76% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $54,897 | $74,568 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 79% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 38% | 56% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,381 | $1,959 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.0% | 23.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,035 | $1,669 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 32.1% | 35.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1987 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 20.0% | 14.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 105,702 | 22,416,077 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Highlands County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Highlands County home of $187,900 with 20% down costs about $1,202 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,515, 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 $51,525 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 26% of the median Highlands County household income of $54,897; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $200,000.
The median rent here is $1,035 a month, so owning the median home costs about $167 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $37,580 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $150,320 |
| Principal and interest | $1,011 |
| Property taxes (0.72% a year) | $113 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $78 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,202 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $6,576 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $184,497 |
| Principal and interest | $1,241 |
| Property taxes (0.72% a year) | $113 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $78 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $83 |
| Total per month | $1,515 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Highlands County
What is the median home value in Highlands County?
About $187,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Highlands County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,353 a year, which is about 0.72% 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 Highlands County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,202 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $51,525 a year.
More about Highlands County
- Mortgage Refinance in Highlands County
- Debt Relief in Highlands County
- Home Equity Loans in Highlands County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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