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Hardee County, FL
9 cities and towns and 4 ZIP codes in Hardee County, Florida.
Population
25,675
Land area
638sq mi
People per sq mi
40
ZIP codes
4
Cities and towns in Hardee County
Hardee County at a glance
- Hardee County is 90% less dense than Florida as a whole.
- The median household income is $60,489, 19% below the Florida median of $74,568.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $153,600 (57% below Florida) and median rent is $962 a month.
- Its largest cities are Wauchula (4,927), Bowling Green (2,226) and Zolfo Springs (2,158).
Local data for Hardee County, FL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Hardee County, FL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$60,489
Poverty rate
25.3%
Median home value
$153,600
Prices +1.6% in a year
Median rent
$962/mo
Homeownership
71.4%
Bachelor's or higher
12.1%
Median age
35.8
Average commute
26.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (7,655), Puerto Ricans (1,536), Irish Americans (1,220).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
5.5%
Aug 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$48,434
7,202 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$37,993
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$134M
FY 2026, $5,308 per person
PPP loans
$26M
441 loans, 4,771 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$54.1K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Hardee County, FL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone69.7%
- Carpooled22.5%
- Public transit1.0%
- Walked1.8%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home4.3%
Average one-way commute: 26.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Hardee County, FL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
222
Most often frost/freeze
Flood insurance policies
118
1.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
92° / 48°F
52.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Hardee County, FL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.9%
U.S. 33.3% +6.6 pts
Diabetes
15.6%
U.S. 12.1% +3.5 pts
Smoking
17.6%
U.S. 12.8% +4.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
26.1%
U.S. 11.1% +15.0 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Hardee County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Hardee County, FL?
- Wauchula is the largest city or town in Hardee County, with about 4,927 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Hardee County?
- Hardee County includes 4 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 33834, 33865, 33873, 33890.
- What is the population of Hardee County, FL?
- About 25,675 people live in Hardee County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Hardee County?
- Hardee County borders Hillsborough County, Polk County, Manatee County, Highlands County, DeSoto County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023