Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Fort Lauderdale, FL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

185,604

Median Agei

42.8

Race & Ethnicityi

White

44.4%82,456

Black

28.7%53,214

Hispanic/Latino

20.3%37,691

Two or More

4.5%8,443

Asian

1.4%2,649

Other

0.5%902

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%201

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%48

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3%4,272

High School Diploma

20.9%29,332

Some College (<1 yr)

4.6%6,478

Some College (1+ yr)

12%16,798

Associate's Degree

8.3%11,706

Bachelor's Degree

24.6%34,432

Master's Degree

10.2%14,341

Professional Degree

3.9%5,490

Doctorate

2.1%2,904

HS or Higher

89.7%

BA or Higher

40.8%

Graduate+

16.2%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$486,700

Median Renti

$1,854

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

54.1%43,841

Renter-Occupied

45.9%37,158

Total Units

101,691

Homeownership

54.1%

Vacancy Rate

20.3%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.5%1,088

$50K–$100K

1.4%600

$100K–$150K

1.5%670

$150K–$200K

3.5%1,517

$200K–$300K

11.8%5,186

$300K–$500K

31.7%13,894

$500K–$1M

30%13,151

$1M+

17.6%7,735

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,012

$500–$750

818

$750–$1,000

1,608

$1,000–$1,250

3,720

$1,250–$1,500

4,282

$1,500–$2,000

9,265

$2,000+

15,301

Year Built

2020 or later

2.6%2,620

2010–2019

10.5%10,641

2000–2009

11%11,220

1990–1999

3.5%3,514

1980–1989

7.4%7,546

1970–1979

21.4%21,791

1960–1969

19.9%20,268

1950–1959

19.6%19,959

1940–1949

2.6%2,651

1939 or earlier

1.5%1,481

Heating Fuel

Electricity

89.8%72,727

No Fuel

5.5%4,491

Utility Gas

3.5%2,802

Bottled/LP Gas

0.9%719

Solar

0.2%199

Fuel Oil

0%30

Other

0%26

Wood

0%5

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$83,130

Mean Household Incomei

$133,067

Per Capita Incomei

$59,629

Poverty Ratei

14.8%

Unemploymenti

5.3%

Labor Forcei

100,960

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.7%3,828

$10K–$15K

4%3,209

$15K–$20K

3%2,390

$20K–$25K

3.3%2,684

$25K–$30K

3.5%2,862

$30K–$35K

2.6%2,118

$35K–$40K

3.1%2,513

$40K–$45K

3.3%2,702

$45K–$50K

3.1%2,511

$50K–$60K

6.4%5,166

$60K–$75K

8.8%7,166

$75K–$100K

11.1%8,990

$100K–$125K

9.6%7,815

$125K–$150K

7.8%6,342

$150K–$200K

9.7%7,891

$200K+

15.8%12,812

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

3,113

Residentsi

6,478

Avg. Tenant Renti

$520/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

16 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing30 homes93% occupied$580/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers1,842 homes87% occupied$576/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8791 homes91% occupied$387/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC1 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $83,130/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $25K/yr

79%

Very low income$25K–$42K/yr

16.8%

Low income$42K–$67K/yr

3.5%

Moderate / aboveOver $67K/yr

0.7%

Who Receives This Housing

77.2% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

89.3% of subsidized households are minority

21.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

38.6% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

50,11927%

By Region

Top Countries

Guatemala

2,512

Canada

1,680

United Kingdom

1,509

Mexico

1,274

India

489

Germany

466

Philippines

421

Poland

394

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

93,692

Avg. Commutei

26.1 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

95,614

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

6,526(4.3% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

86.4%Insured

13.6%Uninsured