In Miami-Dade County, Florida, rent on a two-bedroom takes about two in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Miami-Dade County, 40.6% of the median household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom at HUD's fair market rent (HUD and Census Bureau, HUD rent fiscal year 2027; household income 2024). That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 72% of U.S. counties.
What drives Miami-Dade County's score
In Miami-Dade County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 99.4. Rent on a two-bedroom takes 40.6% of the median household's income (fiscal year 2027), higher than in 99% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 76.0.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Miami-Dade County does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (10.3%, 2020 to 2024) and unemployment rate, 12-month average (2.8%, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Miami-Dade County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 99.4 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorHUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income40.6% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent33.4% · 2020 to 202499th percentile
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- 76.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.6% · August 202568th percentile
- People with a credit card behind7.3% · August 202577th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score32.9% · Q4 202582nd percentile
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- 70.4 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector23.6% · August 202551st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people282.6 · 202589th percentile
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- 45.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line17.7% · 202452nd percentile
- People with a disability10.3% · 2020 to 20245th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$75,779 · 202427th percentile
- People below the poverty line14.2% · 202458th percentile
- People without health insurance13.6% · 2020 to 202485th percentile
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- 23.6 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.0% · 2020 to 202439th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average2.8% · Sep 2025 to Aug 20267th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; 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 Aug 2026.
Where the money in Miami-Dade County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Miami-Dade County
Florida
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Miami-Dade County in 2024, pay from work was 52 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 30 cents. Benefit checks were 18 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 8 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
Income from investments and rentals is unusually large here: 30 cents of the dollar, against 21 nationally.
In Miami-Dade County, benefit checks rose from 8 to 18 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Miami-Dade County, Florida: 17.8% and 51.9% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 17.8% of all personal income in Miami-Dade County, Florida (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
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 Miami-Dade County, 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Miami-Dade County has changed
The number of people living in Miami-Dade County more than doubled between 1969 and 2024, from 1,249,884 to 2,838,461. The number of jobs located there grew by about 44% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 7.6% in 1990 to 2.7% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 1,249,884 | 2024 2,838,461 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 870,554 | 2024 1,257,569 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.6% | 2025 2.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1997 21.1% | 2024 14.2% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1997 $30,000 | 2024 $75,779 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 7.7% | 2024 17.8% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Miami-Dade County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 2,701,767, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
1975
Eastern Airlines headquarters moved then folded. Wikipedia
1996
Rip current: two deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
1998
Tornado: $175 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1999
Flash flood: $100 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
Tornado: $8 million in property damage, one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
41 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Miami-Dade County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Miami-Dade County beside its neighbors
Of the three counties that border Miami-Dade County, one scores higher. Of the group, Miami-Dade County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (17.8%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broward County, FL | 74 | 11.7% | 16.3% |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | 72 | 14.2% | 17.8% |
| Collier County, FL | 48 | 10.4% | 10.5% |
| Monroe County, FL | 47 | 10.9% | 9.9% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 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 Miami-Dade County the poorest county in Florida?
No, Miami-Dade County's poverty rate was 14.2% in 2024, 31st 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, Miami-Dade County ranks 44th of 67 in the state.
Miami-Dade County, Florida: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Miami-Dade County, Florida?
14.2% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in seven people. Among children it was 17.7%.
Is Miami-Dade County the poorest county in Florida?
No, Miami-Dade County's poverty rate was 14.2% in 2024, 31st 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, Miami-Dade County ranks 44th of 67 in the state.
What is the population of Miami-Dade County, Florida?
About 2,838,461 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 2,701,767, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Miami-Dade County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Centro Campesino, Farmworkers Center, Inc
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Cuban American National Council, Inc. - Miami
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Housing Foundation of America
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Services of Greater Miami (LSGMI)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies 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 Miami-Dade County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Miami-Dade County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.