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Highlands County, FL
3 cities and towns and 8 ZIP codes in Highlands County, Florida.
Population
105,702
Land area
1,018sq mi
People per sq mi
104
ZIP codes
8
Cities and towns in Highlands County
Highlands County at a glance
- Highlands County is 75% less dense than Florida as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $54,897 a year, 26% less than the Florida figure of $74,568.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $187,900 (48% below Florida) and median rent is $1,035 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Sebring (11,382), Avon Park (10,057) and Lake Placid (2,477).
Local data for Highlands County, FL
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes5
- Schools34
- Colleges2
- Libraries3
- Banks17
- Post Offices6
- Parks34
- Grocery Stores37
- Restaurants243
- Affordable Housing6
- Home Health Agencies2
- Dialysis Centers5
- Community Health Centers2
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment3
- Private Schools10
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities7
- Historic Places12
Housing and community stats
Highlands County, FL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$54,897
Poverty rate
15.3%
Median home value
$187,900
Prices +3.5% in a year
Median rent
$1,035/mo
Homeownership
78.6%
Bachelor's or higher
20.5%
Median age
54.4
Average commute
23.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (14,931), Irish Americans (9,798), Mexican Americans (9,487).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
6.3%
Sep 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,263
28,704 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$46,499
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$994M
FY 2026, $9,822 per person
PPP loans
$109M
2,386 loans, 16,268 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$361K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Highlands County, FL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.2%
- Carpooled12.2%
- Public transit0.2%
- Walked1.9%
- Bicycle0.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.4%
- Worked from home8.6%
Average one-way commute: 23.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Highlands County, FL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
271
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
964
1.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
93° / 48°F
54.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone12 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Highlands County, FL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.7%
U.S. 33.3% +3.4 pts
Diabetes
18.3%
U.S. 12.1% +6.2 pts
Smoking
14.3%
U.S. 12.8% +1.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
17.9%
U.S. 11.1% +6.8 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Highlands County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Highlands County, FL?
- Sebring is the largest city or town in Highlands County, with about 11,382 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Highlands County?
- Highlands County includes 8 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 33825, 33852, 33857, 33870, 33872.
- What is the population of Highlands County, FL?
- About 105,702 people live in Highlands County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Highlands County?
- Highlands County borders Polk County, Osceola County, Charlotte County, Okeechobee County, DeSoto County, Hardee County, Glades County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023