Unemployment in Hardee County, Florida, is higher than in 88% of U.S. counties
In Hardee County, 5.5% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 88% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 91% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hardee County's score
In Hardee County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 86.5. About three in ten renters (28.3%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 94% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 80.9.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Hardee 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.
Hardee County does better than most counties on one measure: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (66, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 86.5 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 rent28.3% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.1% · fiscal year 202778th percentile
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- 80.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind8.6% · August 202588th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.0% · August 202572nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score51.0% · second quarter of 202682nd percentile
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- 80.7 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202687th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working24.9% · 2020 to 202473rd percentile
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- 79.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line18.9% · 202483rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line24.1% · 202479th percentile
- People with a disability16.7% · 2020 to 202456th percentile
- People without health insurance20.1% · 2020 to 202496th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$56,091 · 202480th percentile
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- 51.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector34.8% · August 202585th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people66 · 202517th 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 Hardee 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 Hardee County, 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Hardee County
Florida
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Hardee County, benefit checks' share of income has grown to about four times its 1969 level, reaching 32.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in nearly twice as much as benefit checks
In Hardee County, Florida, benefit checks' share of income grew to about four times its 1969 level by 2024, reaching 32.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Hardee County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 13.1% in 2009 to 16.9% in 2010.
The share of households in Hardee County getting SNAP food aid doubled from 2009 to 2023, reaching 25.9%, then turned down in 2024
High on the chart: 26.7% in 2022. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Hardee County, Florida.
How Hardee County has changed
Hardee County's population had its largest rise, from 19,517 in 1989 to 23,704 in 1994.
Hardee County's population nearly doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 26,068
High on the chart: 27,661 in 2009. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Hardee County, Florida.
The number of jobs located in Hardee County had its largest rise, from 6,838 in 1990 to 7,734 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Hardee County was at its highest on the chart in 2010 and is down 9% since
High on the chart: 7,955 in 2010. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Hardee County, Florida.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 11.9% | 2025 4.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 24.1% | 2024 18.9% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $19,064 | 2024 $56,091 |
The table uses 4.7% for 2025; the score uses 5.5% 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 Hardee County's history
1849
Fort Chokonikla constructed by U.S. Army. Wikipedia
1850
Fort Chokonikla abandoned due to outbreak of sickness. Wikipedia
1921
Created April 23, 1921 by Florida Legislature dividing old DeSoto County into Hardee, DeSoto, Charlotte, Highlands and Glades. Wikipedia
2001
A flash flood in September 2001 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2004
Hurricane Charley struck with 149 mph winds causing extensive destruction. Wikipedia
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 27,731. The 2020 Census counted 25,327, 91% of the peak. Census Bureau
2017
A flood in September 2017 did $1.64 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1977
34 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hardee County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Hardee County beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border Hardee County, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Hardee County ranks 3rd of the five; Highlands County is highest, at 41.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands County, FL | 94 | 15.5% | 41.2% |
| DeSoto County, FL | 93 | 21.8% | 36.9% |
| Polk County, FL | 91 | 13.4% | 28.2% |
| Hardee County, FL | 91 | 18.9% | 32.3% |
| Manatee County, FL | 61 | 9.8% | 21.4% |
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 Hardee County the poorest county in Florida?
No, Hardee County's poverty rate was 18.9% in 2024, 14th 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, Hardee County ranks 10th of 67 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hardee 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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Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS)
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 Hardee 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 Hardee County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.