In Broward County, Florida, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in three dollars of the typical household's income
In Broward County, 34.2% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 72% of U.S. counties.
What drives Broward County's score
In Broward County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 99.0. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 67.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Broward County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Broward County does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (11.3%, 2020 to 2024) and median household income ($81,337, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 99.1 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent33.1% · 2020 to 202498th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income34.2% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
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- 67.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.3% · August 202554th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people222.5 · 202580th percentile
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- 64.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.0% · August 202574th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.2% · August 202564th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score42.0% · second quarter of 202656th percentile
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- 48.4 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202664th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.8% · 2020 to 202432nd percentile
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- 37.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line11.7% · 202437th percentile
- Children below the poverty line14.9% · 202438th percentile
- People with a disability11.3% · 2020 to 20249th percentile
- People without health insurance12.5% · 2020 to 202480th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,337 · 202418th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Broward County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Broward County, 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Broward County
Florida
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Broward County made its largest gain on the way to its 2009 high, from 13.4% in 2004 to 16.9% in 2009.
In Broward County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 16.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than three times as much as benefit checks
In Broward County, Florida, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 16.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Broward County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 10.0% in 2012 to 11.6% in 2013.
The share of households in Broward County getting SNAP food aid doubled from 2009 to 2024, reaching 13.2%
High on the chart: 13.6% in 2018. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Broward County, Florida.
How Broward County has changed
Broward County's population had its largest rise, from 595,651 in 1969 to 840,565 in 1974.
Broward County's population more than tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 2,037,472, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2004 to 2009, reaching 1,733,310. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Broward County, Florida.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Broward County nearly doubled to 863,595, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2020 to 2025, reaching 863,595. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Broward County, Florida.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.9% | 2025 3.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.2% | 2024 11.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,615 | 2024 $81,337 |
The table uses 3.7% for 2025; the score uses 4.4% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Broward County's history
1980
A tornado in March 1980 did $25 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1998
A tornado in February 1998 did $30 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1999
A flash flood in October 1999 did $45 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2005
Hurricane Wilma most damaging storm since 1950; widespread power outages. Wikipedia
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 1,944,375, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2023
A flash flood in April 2023 did $28 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
42 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Broward County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Broward County beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border Broward County, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Broward County ranks 3rd of the five; Hendry County is highest, at 28.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendry County, FL | 92 | 18.3% | 28.9% |
| Broward County, FL | 72 | 11.7% | 16.3% |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | 70 | 14.2% | 17.8% |
| Palm Beach County, FL | 62 | 11.7% | 11.2% |
| Collier County, FL | 47 | 10.4% | 10.5% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Broward County the poorest county in Florida?
No, Broward County's poverty rate was 11.7% in 2024, 40th highest of 67 in Florida (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Hamilton County, at 25.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Broward County ranks 40th of 67 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Broward County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Consolidated Credit Solutions, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Hispanic Unity of Florida
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Broward County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Broward County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.