Florida · Census, HUD and BEA figures · Updated

Cost of Living in Hardee County, FL

Prices around Hardee County, FL run 3.4% above the U.S. average (BEA, Florida). The typical household there earns $60,489 a year, and HUD puts a two-bedroom at $1,248 a month. Keeping that rent under 30% of income takes about $49,920 a year.

Hardee County, FL at a glance

Median household income

$60,489$5,041 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year
2-bedroom rent$1,248HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent
Price level (U.S. = 100)103.4+3.4% · BEA, Florida
Electricity15.1¢per kWh · EIA Residential FL
Population25,675Census ACS 5-year estimate

How much rent can you afford in Hardee County, FL?

HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.

Affordable (< 30% of income)
HUD Fair Market Rent$1,248Monthly market rent
Share of gross income24.8%Recommended max: 30%
Annual income needed$49,920To meet the 30% standard
Max affordable rent$1,512At 30% of $60,489
0%30% (Affordability standard)100%
Compare against:

How much is rent in Hardee County, FL? By bedroom, 2026

HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Hardee County, FL, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.

HUD Fair Market Rent in Hardee County, FL, fiscal 2026
Unit SizeMonthly RentAnnual Rent30% Rule Min. Income% of Median Income
Studio / Efficiency$1,058$12,696$42,32021%
1-Bedroom Apartment$1,064$12,768$42,56021.1%
2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark$1,248$14,976$49,92024.8%
3-Bedroom Home$1,691$20,292$67,64033.5%
4-Bedroom Home$2,094$25,128$83,76041.5%

Rent in Hardee County, FL, with the wage each unit needs →

What a typical income covers in Hardee County, FL

The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $60,489 a year ($5,041 a month before tax).

Needs (50%)$2,520/moRent ($1,248 2-BR), utilities (~$136/mo), groceries, transit
Wants (30%)$1,512/moEating out, travel, subscriptions and the rest
Savings and debt (20%)$1,008/moEmergency fund, retirement, paying down loans

What $60,489 leaves after Florida taxes

Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Florida tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.

$60,489
$20,000$125,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$60,489
Net 84%
Fed 8%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$50,783After all taxes
Monthly deposit$4,232Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,953Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.1%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$5,079 / yr
Florida state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,627 / yr

Living in Hardee County, FL: common questions

What is the median household income in Hardee County, FL?

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Hardee County, FL is $60,489 per year (approximately $5,041 per month).

What is the average rent in Hardee County, FL?

The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,058 for a studio, $1,064 for one bedroom, $1,248 for two, $1,691 for three and $2,094 for four, utilities included.

It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.

Is Hardee County, FL expensive to live in?

Prices there run 3.4% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Florida is 103.4, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.

How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Hardee County, FL?

To keep a $1,248 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $49,920 a year, or $4,160 a month. That is 83% of what the typical household in Hardee County, FL earns.

How much do you need to live comfortably in Hardee County, FL?

On the local median income of $60,489 ($5,041 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,520 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,512 for everything else and $1,008 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,248 takes 50% of the needs share.

How much is the electric bill in Hardee County, FL?

Homes in Florida paid 15.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $136. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.