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Highlands County

FL · Pop. 103,808 · Mixed County

65/100Homestead Score

Highlands County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Florida, spanning 1,018 square miles with 103,808 residents at a density of 102 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, melons. The median home price is $178,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.73%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 10a with a 290-day growing season, average summer highs of 92°F and average winter lows of 48.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 49.9 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Adventhealth Lake Placid is 2.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93.6% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.73%
Growing Season: 290 days
Broadband: 93.6%
Density: 102/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 290-day growing season in USDA zone 10a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.73% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $178,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 93.6% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Adventhealth Lake Placid, with an emergency room, is just 2.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.

At a glance

Highlands County, FL is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score
65/100
Median home price
$178k
Property tax
0.73%
Growing season
290 days (zone 10a)
Annual rainfall
49.9"
Broadband
93.6%
Nearest hospital
Adventhealth Lake Placid, 2.2 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.73%
Median Household Income$55,581
Poverty Rate15.4%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$178K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone10a
Growing Season290 days
Annual Rainfall49.9 inches
Avg Summer High92°F
Avg Winter Low48.5°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Melons

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought8/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado9/10
Flood8/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalAdventhealth Lake Placid (2.2 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities3

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage93.6%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate5.6%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Highlands County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Highlands County?
Highlands County is in USDA hardiness zone 10a with a 290-day growing season, average summer highs of 92°F, and average winter lows of 48.5°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, melons.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $178,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.73%. County-level per-acre prices aren't published, so compare current local listings for raw land.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 93.6% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Adventhealth Lake Placid is 2.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.