DeSoto County, Florida
County Distress Index score and five-domain breakdown for DeSoto County. Population: 35,979 (small).
Data: Census, BLS, Urban Institute, HUD, US Courts | Scores as of 2026-03-17
DeSoto County, FL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 76.2 — 44th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Community Vulnerability, where uninsured and disability rates are well above the national average. Within Florida, it ranks 3rd of 67 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.
Five-Domain Breakdown
How DeSoto County compares to all U.S. counties across five dimensions of financial distress. Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.
Community Vulnerability
Primary DriverIncome & Poverty
Debt & Delinquency
Housing Cost Burden
Employment & Wages
How DeSoto County Compares
Neighboring Counties
| County | Score | Zone | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto County, FL | 76.2 | Serious Stress | — |
| Hardee County, FL | 77.3 | Serious Stress | +1.1 |
| Highlands County, FL | 73.5 | Serious Stress | -2.7 |
| Glades County, FL | 68.9 | Serious Stress | -7.3 |
| Charlotte County, FL | 56.2 | Elevated | -20.0 |
| Manatee County, FL | 53.8 | Elevated | -22.4 |
Population Peers
Counties with similar population (small) and closest distress scores nationally.
| County | Score | Zone | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uvalde County, TX | 76.2 | Serious Stress | +0.0 |
| Charlton County, GA | 76.1 | Serious Stress | -0.0 |
| Vance County, NC | 76.1 | Serious Stress | -0.0 |
| Lauderdale County, TN | 76.4 | Serious Stress | +0.3 |
| Telfair County, GA | 75.8 | Serious Stress | -0.4 |
Download Data
Export all distress indicators for DeSoto County as a CSV file.
Resources
DeSoto County scores in the Serious Stress zone. If you or someone you know is experiencing financial hardship, free help is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the distress score for DeSoto County, Florida?
DeSoto County has a County Distress Index score of 76.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious Stress zone. It ranks 44th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in Florida out of 67 counties.
What drives financial distress in DeSoto County?
The primary driver of distress in DeSoto County is Community Vulnerability, where the county scores 89.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Uninsured Rate, Disability Rate.
How does DeSoto County compare to neighboring counties?
DeSoto County (76.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Hardee County, FL (77.3); Highlands County, FL (73.5); Glades County, FL (68.9).
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.
What is the population of DeSoto County?
DeSoto County, Florida has a population of approximately 35,979 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.